Today marks the 23rd anniversary of the passing of West Ham United's finest-ever player and captain - Bobby Moore OBE...
Bobby Moore OBE, West Ham United's greatest-ever player and England's 1966 World Cup-winning captain, sadly passed away on this day 23 years ago. The central defender made 646 league and cup appearances for the Hammers, scoring 27 goals.
Moore was born in Barking on 12 April 1941, making his debut for his local club in a 3-2 win over Manchester United at the Boleyn Ground as a 17-year-old on 8 September 1958. It was the start of a glittering career that is remembered fondly by football fans the world over.
As a West Ham player, Moore lifted the FA Cup in 1964 and the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1965. A year later, he was back at Wembley to complete an unforgettable hat-trick by lifting the Jules Rimet Trophy following England's 4-2 victory over West Germany.
Moore would go on to star at the 1970 World Cup finals in Mexico before moving to Fulham, for whom he played against the Hammers in the 1975 FA Cup final. Following his retirement, Moore moved first into management and then into the world of broadcasting before his life was cut short by cancer in February 1993. He was just 51.
Fellow Hammers legend Billy Bonds MBE recalls Bobby's memory fondly.
He said: "Mooro was an absolute icon. I respected a lot of team-mates and opponents down the years but he was the only person in my entire career, who made me feel that way.
"He was fantastic to me from the day that I arrived and I loved him as a player and as a person. Bobby Moore had a presence both off and on the field.
"There was no side to him at all and, having lifted the World Cup, he'd been the most famous person on the planet on that July afternoon at Wembley in 1966 but, despite all of that, Bobby wasn't the slightest bit lairy. Mooro treated everyone the same, no matter who they were.
"Bobby Moore wasn't a particularly good header of the ball and he wasn't very quick either but, boy, his timing was impeccable. He didn't need to be good in the air or fast because he could read the game so well - he always seemed to be in the right place at the right time to nick the ball off a centre-forward.
"And he was just so good at bringing the ball out of defence and starting attacks, too."
Moore was born in Barking on 12 April 1941, making his debut for his local club in a 3-2 win over Manchester United at the Boleyn Ground as a 17-year-old on 8 September 1958. It was the start of a glittering career that is remembered fondly by football fans the world over.
As a West Ham player, Moore lifted the FA Cup in 1964 and the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1965. A year later, he was back at Wembley to complete an unforgettable hat-trick by lifting the Jules Rimet Trophy following England's 4-2 victory over West Germany.
Moore would go on to star at the 1970 World Cup finals in Mexico before moving to Fulham, for whom he played against the Hammers in the 1975 FA Cup final. Following his retirement, Moore moved first into management and then into the world of broadcasting before his life was cut short by cancer in February 1993. He was just 51.
Fellow Hammers legend Billy Bonds MBE recalls Bobby's memory fondly.
He said: "Mooro was an absolute icon. I respected a lot of team-mates and opponents down the years but he was the only person in my entire career, who made me feel that way.
"He was fantastic to me from the day that I arrived and I loved him as a player and as a person. Bobby Moore had a presence both off and on the field.
"There was no side to him at all and, having lifted the World Cup, he'd been the most famous person on the planet on that July afternoon at Wembley in 1966 but, despite all of that, Bobby wasn't the slightest bit lairy. Mooro treated everyone the same, no matter who they were.
"Bobby Moore wasn't a particularly good header of the ball and he wasn't very quick either but, boy, his timing was impeccable. He didn't need to be good in the air or fast because he could read the game so well - he always seemed to be in the right place at the right time to nick the ball off a centre-forward.
"And he was just so good at bringing the ball out of defence and starting attacks, too."