Wembley Stadium commissions Bobby Moore statue
2 September 2005
Wembley Stadium has commissioned a Bobby Moore statue as a tribute to the remarkable career and life of the England and world football legend.
The bronze statue will be unveiled next year, 40 years after the triumphant World Cup win, and will stand in a prominent position at the front of the main stadium entrance at the end of Wembley Way.
Wembley Stadium’s stakeholders feel the sculpture will be a fitting tribute to Bobby Moore’s unique achievement in the history of English football and his iconic status as England’s 1966 World Cup winning captain.
Wembley National Stadium Limited [WNSL] has selected sculptor Philip Jackson to take on this prestigious commission. Jackson has a hugely impressive track record of creating landmark sculptures and is the man behind the famous Sir Matt Busby statue at Old Trafford and the Wallenberg Monument in Great Cumberland place, London. Jackson is also the only artist to have been commissioned to create a public statue of Her Majesty the Queen, which stands in Windsor Great Park.
Jackson, who has been chosen from a shortlist of candidates, is due to start work immediately on the statue. Jackson will consult with a panel representing the world of sport, architecture and sculpture as well as friends of the football hero and Stephanie Moore, Bobby Moore’s widow, in order to choose the best design for the statue.
Stephanie Moore has agreed to sit on the consultation panel along with three of her husband’s contemporaries and friends - Sir Bobby Charlton, Sir Geoff Hurst and Sir Trevor Brooking as well as The FA’s Chief Executive, Brian Barwick, WNSL’s Chief Executive, Michael Cunnah, Lord Foster, Professor Brian Falconbridge, President of the Royal British Society of Sculptors and Gavin Morton-Holmes, member of the official englandfans supporters’ club and life-long West Ham supporter.
“I am absolutely delighted that Bobby’s career is being recognised in such an appropriate way and in such a perfect place as Wembley, which he regarded as his second home after 1966,” said Stephanie today.
Bobby died of bowel cancer, aged 51, twelve years ago after an astonishing career. He made 108 appearances for England, 642 appearances for West Ham and was Footballer of the year in 1964, Sports Personality of the Year in 1966 and was awarded the OBE in 1967.
Most of his memorabilia including his 1966 World Cup shirt and winner’s medal was bought by West Ham and a statue commemorates his contribution near the Upton Park ground.
The statue at the new national Stadium will be a fitting tribute to a true English hero and will be in place for the 40th anniversary of the 4-2 World Cup triumph over West Germany and in the same year as Germany hosts the World Cup.
England captain, David Beckham, said: “Bobby Moore is a legend and will be forever linked with Wembley and the 1966 World Cup victory. His name brings back so many great memories and every year this statue will remind thousands of fans, young and old, of his massive contribution to football and to England. He is real hero of mine and a great example to every professional footballer.”
Sir Trevor Brooking, contemporary of Bobby Moore and the FA’s Director of Football Development, said: “Bobby’s contribution to football and history has sadly only been recognised after his premature death but this statue at such an appropriate place will not only be a monument to an astonishing footballer, but to a great man and an important footballing friend to me in my early days.”
Fellow 1966 hero Sir Bobby Charlton added: “This is exactly what the footballing world wants to commemorate the life of Bobby Moore. He is a true soccer icon - Wembley and Bobby’s name should never be separated. They are both part of history and a remarkable sporting achievement.”
World Cup hat-trick hero Sir Geoff Hurst said: “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 – I’m delighted that Wembley have decided to honour him in such a fitting way.”
Brian Barwick, Chief Executive of The FA added: “We talk of Wembley Stadium being the Venue of Legends - Bobby Moore is arguably the greatest legend to have graced the hallowed turf. The FA and WNSL have always hoped to have a statue of Bobby Moore at the new Stadium and I feel honoured to be involved in delivering this. It will be a real landmark – indeed a reference point for every football fan in this country and abroad.”
Michael Cunnah, Chief Executive of WNSL, said: “Just as we are aware of Wembley Stadium’s iconic role in footballing history so to are we aware of Bobby Moore’s unquestionable contribution to English football. It is only right that we should honour England’s greatest ever footballer at our national Stadium.”
Philip Jackson said, “It’s a great honour to have been commissioned to create a bronze statue of Bobby Moore at Wembley. I am looking forward to the challenge of creating a sculpture that captures the qualities associated with Bobby Moore, namely integrity, loyalty, leadership, popularity and humility but above all as the greatest-ever English footballer.”