Football stars pay respects to Bobby Moore ahead of FA tribute on Sunday
It will be 20 years since the death of England legend Bobby Moore this weekend and The FA will pay their own tribute at Wembley.
Moore passed away at the age of 51 on 24 February 1993 and a commemorative wreath will be laid at his statue outside Wembley in memorial.
Tina and Roberta Moore were invited to the stadium this week by The FA’s Director of Football Development Sir Trevor Brooking ahead of the anniversary on Sunday.
Sunday also sees the Capital One Cup Final taking place at Wembley Stadium and The FA will fly the flag of St George at half-mast to recognise the anniversary.
Moore’s status in the game following his achievements with England and West Ham United have led to some of the world’s stars paying tribute.
Brazilian legend Pele was one of the players to come face-to-face with Moore on the pitch, and the image of the pair swapping shirts at the 1970 World Cup is now iconic.
Pele said: "Bobby was one of the world's finest defenders and a great gentleman.
“The shirt he wore against me in that 1970 World Cup match is my prize possession."
Moore’s most famous moment was undoubtedly lifting the World Cup with England in 1966, in front of a home crowd at Wembley.
And another of England’s heroes from that day was Moore’s West Ham team-mate Sir Geoff Hurst.
He added: "Bobby Moore was a great player, a great leader and a great friend.
“He was loved and respected by all who played with him and by all who watched him perform."
Sir Trevor Brooking was also a team-mate of Moore’s at Upton Park.
He said: "Bobby's contribution to football and history has sadly only been recognised after his premature death.
“He was an astonishing footballer, but also a great man and an important footballing friend to me in my early days."
The FA works very closely with the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK, which is also in its 20th anniversary year. The BMF has been The FA’s official charity partner in recent years and the England Senior Men’s team support the BMF through the England Footballer’s Foundation.
Earlier this month, The BMF received a cheque for £25,000 from FA Chairman David Bernstein at the inaugural FA England Awards at St George’s Park. England captain Steven Gerrard announced that the players would match this donation. The Awards ceremony was planned in association with the BMF to help launch their new campaign, Make Bobby Proud.
This connection continued in the build-up to the England v Brazil match at Wembley, where The FA promoted the “text to donate” messages around the stadium and will continue to do so for future home England matches this year as well as The FA Cup Semi-Finals and Final.
Inside the stadium, links to Moore continue in the Bobby Moore Club which is the most prestigious section of Club Wembley. This association entitles the BMF to a full inventory of benefits including an annual match on the Wembley pitch which generates significant funds for the charity.
To find out more about the BMF please click here.<
The Bobby Moore Fund
In 1993 when Bobby Moore OBE died prematurely from bowel cancer at the age of 51, the nation grieved for a football legend and a true gentleman. Stephanie Moore MBE established the Bobby Moore Fund, in partnership with Cancer Research UK in 1993. Since its launch The Fund has raised over £18.8m for ground-breaking bowel cancer research projects and awareness.
20th Anniversary – Make Bobby Proud
2013 is the 20th anniversary of the Bobby Moore Fund so to mark the occasion the Bobby Moore Fund are launching a new campaign for Bowel Cancer Awareness month in April 2013 to ‘Make Bobby Proud’.
There are plenty of ways to get involved to help Make Bobby Proud in 2013. The Bobby Moore Fund benefited from a direct association with The FA England Awards at St. George’s Park earlier this month while The FA donated £25,000 to the Bobby Moore Fund, which was then matched by the England players through the England Footballers Foundation.
You can make a donation to the Bobby Moore Fund quickly and easily. Just text Hero065 to 70070 to donate £5 to the Bobby Moore Fund.
100% of donations will go to Cancer Research UK’s Bobby Moore Fund. UK residents 16+ only. See Terms & Conditions at www.bobbymoorefund.org Reg charity nos: England (1089464); Scotland (SC041666); IoM (1103)