Fans are being asked to put team rivalry aside and unite against cancer and for one day only, don a footy shirt – old or new – in memory of World Cup winner Bobby Moore.
This year marks the third annual Football Shirt Friday, which as always will take place during Bowel Cancer Awareness Month to highlight a disease that took the former England captain’s life over twenty years ago, at the age of just 51.
Wright, who scored 185 goals for Arsenal, is a huge fan of the initiative: “As both a football player and fan, Bobby Moore has been a huge inspiration over the years and someone I’ve always looked up to, which is why it feels so important to get everyone involved in Football Shirt Friday to raise funds and honour his memory.
Wright scored 185 goals for Arsenal
“Wherever you are on the day, get your friends and work colleagues involved, stick on your shirt, and hopefully we can all help beat bowel cancer sooner.”
The inspiration behind Football Shirt Friday comes from one of the most famous images of Moore from the 1970 World Cup, where he swapped shirts with Brazilian legend Pele. Shown as a sign of respect between the opposing players, it is a gesture that has been recreated by footballers worldwide ever since.
Bobby’s wife Stephanie Moore MBE, set up the Fund in partnership with Cancer Research UK to raise money for research into the disease. To date, over £21m has been raised to fund groundbreaking bowel cancer research.
“We have made enormous progress in the last 50 years but bowel cancer still kills 44 people per day in the UK,” commented Stephanie Moore. “Football Shirt Friday will enable the Bobby Moore Fund to raise additional funds and awareness which will help beat this dreadful disease sooner.”
To find out more, visit www.footballshirtfriday.org
