West Ham ready for Bobby Moore Cup match

The Wharf spoke to Moore's widow Stephanie about the game, which will raise money for the Bobby Moore Fund.

She said: "I'm looking forward to the game very much. It was a great occasion last year, the fans really got behind it and showed what the club is all about.

"West Ham supporters are loyal to their heroes and remain loyal to them forever. They are a special band of supporters, a real community. This year it will be a tremendous game and what a great way to kick-start the season."

Last year's game against Villareal saw the retirement of the Hammers' number six shirt, which Moore wore with such distinction in 646 games for the club. Stephanie was presented with the shirt at half-time in that game by Matthew Upson, the last player to wear it, and she admitted she found it an emotional occasion.

She said: "I knew it was going to be difficult so I didn't speak in public when I went onto the pitch to receive the shirt. It was an amazing day and words just can't do justice to what it meant."

The shirt was framed and was later sold at a charity quiz night for £3,000. The Bobby Moore Cup match itself raised £39,950 for cancer research. Stephanie admitted Moore would not have expected such a tribute.

She said: "I think Bobby would have been surprised the number six shirt was retired because he did have his problems with the club after he left. The old board weren't very supportive of him and he rarely went back before he died.

"But in recent years the club have been wonderful and the efforts they have made for the fund have been fantastic.

"He was there man and boy and the club always meant a lot to him. He never had any regrets about his career there, even though people sometimes thought he should have moved to a bigger club to win more trophies.

"But that West Ham side he played in was quite star-studded and achieved some tremendous things like winning the Cup Winners Cup.

"And Bobby was great friends with so many players there, people like Harry Redknapp, so he was quite happy."

Last Thursday, July 30, marked 43 years to the day since Moore lifted the World Cup for England. He tragically died of bowel cancer in February 1993, at the age of just 51, and Stephanie wants to raise awareness of the disease to prevent its spread.

She said: "The most important thing is to raise awareness of bowel cancer. It is curable if it's diagnosed early, but 44 people die from it every day.

"It's also important to raise money for research. Over the last 15 years the treatment available has improved massively but the disease is still growing. People need to eat less red meat, cut down on their drinking and smoking and get more exercise. If we continue as we are it will become an epidemic.

"My message is to go for a screening and if you have any concerns go to a doctor without delay."

The Bobby Moore Cup game against Napoli is on Saturday, August 8. For tickets visit whufc.co.uk.

For more information about the Bobby Moore Fund visit cancerresearchuk.org