Bowel cancer survivors have backed calls to honour England football legend Bobby Moore, after using his name to raise tens of millions for charity.
The former West Ham and Fulham defender, who captained the Three Lions to the 1966 World Cup victory over West Germany at Wembley, died with cancer in 1993, aged just 51.
But the charity fund which bears his name has generated more than £31 million for Cancer Research UK, helping spread awareness, support those with the disease and pay for treatment.
Former cancer patients who have been supported by the Bobby Moore Fund today joined the calls from household names across football, sport and entertainment in urging the Government to create a new posthumous knighthood in tribute to the east Londoner’s significant contribution to life, both on and off the field.
Marcus Hitchens, whose footballer father Gerry Hitchens played alongside a young Bobby for England in the early 1960s, said: ‘I remember my father saying what a great person he was, even as a young footballer, my father thought very highly of Bobby, he commanded respect from everyone, including the more seasoned professionals with a lot more years in the game.
‘Sadly I think he was let down a bit by the authorities – he wasn’t looked after when he left the game, he didn’t have the opportunities that some former footballers do when they retire.
A campaign to honour Bobby Moore with a knighthood has been met with lots of backing
Moore received an OBE (pictured) but was not knighted before his death from cancer in 1993
The Bobby Moore Fund has raised over £31m for Cancer Research UK and former patients are now joined the calls to create a new posthumous knighthood for the England legend
‘So I think it’s the right time to change that now, and give him in death the recognition he sadly failed to get – but completely deserved – during his lifetime.’
Mr Hitchens, a sales manager from Carmel, Holywell in north east Wales, said the fund has given him the ‘platform’ to spread the message about bowel cancer after being diagnosed with it himself as a young man.
Mr Hitchens, 66, said: ‘Sometimes people are a bit embarrassed about bowel cancer but that is something the fund, in Bobby’s name, has been so successful at trying to change over the years.
‘It’s not for everyone standing up in a room full of people and talking about your poo, but I felt comfortable doing that because I know what difference it makes spreading awareness of bowel cancer, and the Bobby Moore Fund has given me the platform to do that and hopefully reach as many men as possible.’
A petition to create a posthumous award for Bobby has now passed 174 signatures, and has been supported by the likes of 1966 hat-trick hero Sir Geoff Hurst, former England captains Bryan Robson and Terry Butcher, and Three Lions regulars including Frank Lampard, Stuart Pearce and Les Ferdinand.
Fellow bowel cancer survivor Matt Black said the charity shone a light on an unglamorous disease by using Bobby’s name to target men who might not otherwise pay attention to symptoms or get checked out.
The 60-year-old property developer from London said: ‘The Bobby Moore Fund has given me a platform and a voice.
‘Post my operation I was very keen to talk about my situation, how I got through it, what are the signs to look out for, and I became incredibly passionate about that.
Knighthoods die with the recipient and cannot be granted posthumously (pictured: Moore with his arm around fellow England great Sir Bobby Charlton, who was knighted in 1994)
A host of big names across the sporting world have backed the new campaign (pictured: Moore swapping shirts with Brazil icon Pele at the 1970 World Cup)
His close friend Sir Geoff Hurst is one of the many football legends who believe it is only fair for Moore to be properly recognised
‘Until “Bowel Babe” Dame Deborah James came to prominence a few years ago, there was no one really advocating the issues around bowel cancer, about cancer research.
‘It wasn’t linked to an individual and the Bobby Moore Fund drove that force really hard for last 30 years.
‘Middle aged blokes especially don’t talk about it, yet Bobby has turned tragedy into something positive, given recognition through sport and through football to the awareness and the issues and the concerns surrounding bowel cancer.
‘By linking it with sports, as he has done, it has made his reach beyond what you would normally expect.’
He added: ‘It is right that he is recognised for this fantastic dedication to saving lives.’
To sign the petition, visit www.change.org/p/official-honour-bobby-moore-petition
For more information about the Bobby Moore Fund, visit http://cruk.ink/4e8eKrp
