Make Bobby Moore a Knight! Football icons unite in campaign to honour former England captain with posthumous knighthood

Sir Geoff Hurst leads the star names calling for 1966 World Cup captain Bobby Moore to be given a posthumous knighthood.

Hat-trick hero Sir Geoff, who received a knighthood in 1998 for services to football, said it was only fair that his late friend and former teammate was properly recognised for his significant contribution to the sport and to charity.

Former West Ham skipper Moore is widely considered one of the greatest defenders in the history of the game, commended for his 'immaculate' behaviour on and off the pitch.

More than £30million has been raised for the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK set up by his widow Stephanie after his death from the disease in 1993 aged just 51, generating vital cash for bowel cancer research and increasing public awareness.

Now star names from football, sport and entertainment have backed a petition calling on the Government to find a way of posthumously marking Moore's significant achievements – amid claims he was 'let down by the authorities' at the time.

Sir Geoff, the first man to score three goals in the World Cup final as England defeated West Germany 4-2 at Wembley, told the Daily Mail: 'If any of the two of us deserved a knighthood it would be the captain of the team.

'Yes, I scored the goals, but I would argue that the captain of the great sides is always the significant figure.

'And forget about the football for one second, you could argue he should get two knighthoods, one for football and for his phenomenal charity efforts.

'I can't think of anybody more deserving of a knighthood in football. I can't pick anybody more deserving of recognition than Mooro.'

Sir Geoff added: 'The treatment he received at the end of his career by the hierarchy and his lack of recognition was nothing short of abysmal.

'He should have been looked after, put in a senior role within English football.'

Former Manchester United skipper Bryan Robson, who also captained England during the 1980s, said it was 'wrong' that Moore never received a knighthood.

'Bobby never got the recognition he deserved for being the captain of the England team that won the World Cup,' he said.

'A few other players got a Knighthood but I always thought Bobby deserved one.

'Bobby was a gentleman and I am all for supporting this campaign.'

Ex-England midfielder Frank Lampard, who starred for Chelsea, West Ham and Manchester City during the Premier League era, added: 'I grew up with the stories of the great Bobby Moore being immaculate as a player and a person, England's greatest ever captain, he and the '66 boys were a huge inspiration to me and every England player that has worn the shirt since.'

And former manager Harry Redknapp, who played alongside Moore at the Hammers, said: 'He was a fantastic role model, a true gentleman and most of all the greatest ever England captain.

'He was a special person and a great pal. It is an injustice that he had not been honoured with a knighthood which he truly deserved.'

The campaign has also been backed by huge names from outside of football.

Sir Clive Woodward, who managed England's 2003 Rugby World Cup win, said: 'He (Moore) served as the example of all I expected of captains of all the teams I have been involved with.

'That he was never knighted is one of the most egregious oversights in any sport.

'It is long overdue time to right that wrong for a gentleman who was absolute class on and off the pitch.'

Broadcaster and former BBC Breakfast host Dan Walker added: 'There is a reason "Sir Bobby Moore" rolls off the tongue and that's because the vast majority of people think that he is one already or firmly believe that he should be.

'The lack of a knighthood might be a glaring anomaly but the good news is, it's really easy to remedy. Arise Sir Bobby.'

Current rules dictate knighthood nominations must be scrutinised by the Honours Committee before recommendations are made to the Prime Minister, who then advises the Monarch.

Knighthoods die with the recipient and cannot be granted posthumously.

However, there is some precedent with author Martin Amis receiving a backdated award shortly after his death as the wheels were already in motion to grant him an honour before he died.

It has prompted calls for the creation of a unique honour or equivalent award to recognise Moore.

Graham Nickless, spokesman for the Honour Bobby Moore campaign, who helped set up the petition, said: 'Having watched Bobby Moore lead England to World Cup victory on a black and white telly in 1966 I am extremely proud to be playing a small part, nearly 60 years later, in trying to get our captain the highest honour this country can give him - and about time too.

'I honestly believe this is the last chance we will have to right a wrong and I am confident that the British public will want to support a petition that will strike home a powerful message to the FA hierarchy and parliamentarians alike.'

Moore made his Three Lions debut in 1962 and was capped 108 times during an 11-year international career.

The London-born defender played much of his club football at West Ham, where he made more than 500 league appearances between 1958 and 1974, before signing for Fulham.

He captained the Hammers to the 1964 FA Cup and the Cup Winners' Cup the following year.

Moore was known for wearing the number six jersey, and received an OBE in 1967.

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