It was on this day 29 years ago that the Hammers icon of icons – Mooro – passed away – Wednesday 24 February 1993, aged just 51.

Never had so many bouquets been placed outside the old Boleyn – never had a footballing family been submerged by so much grief  after the most wonderful career and live finally came to an ultimate end..

Ironically Wolves – who arrive on Sunday were also the opponents for our first home match  at the Boleyn Ground following the loss of the East End’s most important player of all time.

Fellow World Cup winners Martin Peters, Sir Geoff Hurst accompanied their FA Cup and European Cup Winners’ Cup manager Ron Greenwood in carrying a large floral No6 shirt to the centre-spot.

The trio were then joined along the touchline by many of Mooro’s former teammates, including manager Billy Bonds, his assistant Harry Redknapp, Ronnie Boyce and Frank Lampard Senior.

 

Moore's former teammates and friends lined up along the touchline before kick-off 

Indeed, that iconic jersey was to be rested for the day – skipper Ian Bishop wearing No12 instead – ahead of being formally retired some 15 years later, while a minute’s silence was preceded by the replaying of a recording of Bobby’s finest moment in the shirt that he had made his own… the lifting of the 1965 Cup Winners’ Cup at Wembley.

For the record, watched by Moore’s former England teammate, predecessor as captain and Wolves legend Billy Wright, Steve Bull put the ninth-placed visitors ahead on the hour-mark before Trevor Morley quickly levelled. A Julian Dicks penalty was then followed by Matty Holmes’ late strike to give the Hammers the 3-1 win that kept them in second spot and firmly on course for promotion.

But unmistakably, on a day of fitting tributes, football had been put firmly into perspective by the premature and poignant passing of one of the greatest footballers of all time.

Moore's No6 shirt was placed on the centre-spot (2)

Among the memories posted on the official are site are these:

“It was very emotional – an opportunity for all West Ham United fans to pay their respects to Mooro.”
Sir Geoff Hurst

“We were pleased to take part in anything in the memory of Bobby. It was heart-wrenching to see what the supporters had laid outside.”
Martin Peters

“I’ve not only lost a former teammate I admired immensely, but a mate. I was awestruck from the first time I met Bobby – as a 12-year-old kid receiving a medal he presented to our Sunday side. And I have continued to idolise him. He always had presence about him. Everyone looked up to Bobby.”
Billy Bonds

“We were linked by the colour of our hair and the captaincy of our country. When I quit playing dear Bobby went on to step in.”
Billy Wright

ClaretandHugh says: Bobby’s is still the name which has made West Ham such an important club. He was more than OUR captain- he was a national treasure after the World Cup and that he was never knighted is a stain which will forever shame those responsible for handing out those things. Bobby was more than a  footballer – his charisma as an individual was beyond words – he had the looks, charm, elegance but as a player I don’t ever expect to see any better. To put it into the flippant words of the 21st centure; He was the coolest dude on the footballing planet. Bob we’ll never forget you and for those who never saw him just be immensely proud he was one of ours!