Football: A giant of the beautiful game: Kenneth Wolstenholme, the BBC TV commentator at the 1966 World Cup final, pays his personal tribute
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Your support makes all the difference.I SHALL never forget that wonderful day in 1966 when Bobby Moore stood with the World Cup high above his head, being cheered by a crowd of almost 94,000 at Wembley Stadium and the millions watching on television.
England had won the World Cup. As I said at the time: 'It is only 12 inches high, it is solid gold, and it means England are the world champions.' Bobby Moore was the England captain but, as always, he was modest. There was never anything flamboyant about Bobby Moore. He was never the flash guy. On the contrary, he was shy, retiring, modest.
But wherever and whenever people talk about the beautiful game of football, they will always talk about Bobby Moore. Bobby was one of the all-time greats, a player so admired that the unforgettable Pele ran straight to him after Brazil had beaten England in the 1970 World Cup and asked him to swap shirts.
He was captain of England in 90 of his 108 internationals, which speaks volumes for the qualities of his leadership. His disciplinary record was second to none. He strove through every game with head held high, shoulders back, and showed a knowledge of the game which was uncanny. He was never a greyhound but he confounded all the speed merchants with his ability to read the game and always be in the right place at the right time.
But that was Bobby Moore the footballer - and all those who saw him play have their own memories.
I want to remember Bobby Moore the man. He was never boastful, nor was he ever vindictive. Never did I hear him say a bad word about anyone. If he couldn't say something good about you he would say nothing.
He met disappointment as he met success. After the heady heights of captaining England to the World Cup win, he came face to face with the fact that he was not a success as a manager. Perhaps he was too nice a guy.
He took blows in business but he still remained the friendly, smiling, ever-optimistic Bobby Moore. He never blamed anyone else for his troubles. From every disappointment he bounced up, showing the grit and determination that sustained him these last two years as he fought the enemy which has finally beaten him.
Bobby Moore was the sort of man every youngster should and could look up to and admire. But sadly the game of football never used him as it should have done.
Pele, a man in the Moore mould, is used as a worldwide sporting ambassador. Bobby should have been used in the same way because he was a man with all the qualities we hold dear - loyalty, honesty and leadership.
A great player, a great man has been taken from us. But the memory of him will live with us all forever.
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