Newham council have agreed for the 16ft bronze statue of Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters plus Everton’s Ray Wilson which celebrates England’s World Cup win in 1966 to be moved to the Olympic Stadium on condition it is replaced with a sculpture that celebrates West Ham’s connection to the area.
ClaretandHugh understands that the club will need to fully fund the relocation to it’s a new home outside the Olympic Stadium ahead of West Ham’s summer move.
Newham councillors backed plans to make the sculpture the showpiece of a new Champions Place.
Cllr Ken Clark, cabinet member for building communities, public affairs, regeneration and planning, said: “This is an iconic sculpture showing West Ham’s key role in one of this country’s greatest sporting successes.
“There is a strong case for it being relocated, but we must not ignore the area it will be moving from.Before the sculpture is moved, we must be assured that appropriate junction improvements and West Ham United’s history at the Boleyn Ground will be commemorated.”
The sculpture, designed by Philip Jackson, was unveiled by Prince Andrew in April 2003.
Councillors have also agreed to develop plans to improve the Barking Road junction where it currently stands, and will look at the possibility of incorporating a new sculpture into the design. The council will seek funding from Transport for London and other sources for the work, which it aims to complete by 2019.
Just what we need replace the statue with another with Billy Bonds being the main man,
Maybe a team of greats in the kit of the day figures slightly smaller then the Bobby Moore one,
That would be something that could be for Billy Bonds
Billy Bonds with the FA cup …. He is Mr West Ham
Brilliant idea