Moore statue unveiled at Wembley
Bobby Moore's statue is to be a centrepoint on Wembley Way
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Friday, 11, May 2007 02:42
A statue of England's only World Cup-winning captain has been unveiled at the new Wembley Stadium.
The bronze, six-metre tall statue of Bobby Moore is to stand in front of the national stadium so that it is always visible to fans making their way down Wembley Way.
Outgoing prime minister Tony Blair attended the official ceremony today, along with members of the former West Ham defender's family.
Speaking at the unveiling, which occurred at the same time as Mr Blair's assumed successor Gordon Brown was announcing his Labour leadership candidacy, the prime minister called Moore a "true gentleman".
"If you want a role model in public life, Bobby Moore is a pretty good one to take," Mr Blair said.
Moore died in 1993 after suffering from bowel cancer. He was the first, and until the recent death of Alan Ball only, member of the 1996 playing squad to die and his passing saw outbreaks of mourning nationwide.
Other members of the squad which beat Germany 4-2 after extra time in the iconic final at the old Wembley were also in attendance today.
Sculptor Philip Jackson created the statue after football fans voted for Moore as the person they would most like honoured in an FA website poll in September 2005.
He consulted with Moore's widow Stephanie over the design, which was then discussed by a panel including other World Cup winners Sir Bobby Charlton and Sir Geoff Hurst among others.
"The unveiling of this statue is the finishing touch, the icing on the cake that marks the return of Bobby Moore to Wembley, indeed the return of Wembley and the return of the national game to its true and proper home," a Wembley spokesman said.
After a series of delays, the new stadium in north London will be officially opened next Saturday for the FA Cup final between champions Manchester United and Chelsea.