World Cup Sculpture
Encyclopedia
The World Cup Sculpture, or simply The Champions, is a bronze statue of the 1966 World Cup Final
located near West Ham United Football Club's
Boleyn Ground
(Upton Park) stadium in the London Borough of Newham
, England. It depicts a famous victory scene photographed after the final, held at the old Wembley Stadium in London, featuring Bobby Moore
, Geoff Hurst
, Martin Peters
and Ray Wilson. It was the first and only time England
had won the World Cup
, and England captain Moore is pictured held shoulder high, holding the Jules Rimet Trophy aloft. Jointly commissioned by Newham Council and West Ham United, it stands at the junction of Barking Road and Green Street, near the Boleyn Ground. It commemorates West Ham's contribution to the victory, with Moore, Hurst and Peters having all been West Ham players at the time of the 1966 World Cup
. Sculpted by the Royal Sculptor Philip Jackson
, it was unveiled in 2003 by Prince Andrew
, president of the Football Association. Jackson went on to also sculpt the Bobby Moore Sculpture
, unveiled at the new Wembley
when it opened in 2007.
in the London Borough of Newham, close to the home stadium of West Ham, the Boleyn Ground (commonly called Upton Park).
opened in 2007).
In that final, Moore was the team captain and a central defender, while Wilson served as full back alongside him. Peters in midfield, and Hurst as one of the strikers, were the England goalscorers on the day of the final, with Hurst scoring the first goal in the first half, Peters scoring in the second half, and Hurst scoring two more in extra time to complete a famous World Cup hat-trick and secure victory.
Jackson used as his subject material a series of photographs taken during a 12-second period after the game. In a scene described by the Football Association as "one of the enduring post-match images", Moore was pictured holding the Jules Rimet World Cup Trophy
above his head, while he himself is being held shoulder high by Hurst and Wilson, while Peters completes the scene. Jackson exercised some artistic license to not depict Wilson's expression entirely accurately, as he had been grimacing due to taking much of Moore's weight, stating "I didn't think he would mind".
Wilson, described by the FA as a "normally reserved" man, later said of the events depicted, "Nearly all the other players were celebrating around the pitch and they needed someone to help lift Bobby, Otherwise I would not have been there, believe me."
, where the club resides. At the time of the final, Moore, Hurst and Peters were all West Ham players, while Wilson was with Everton F.C.
The statue was the idea of Newham councillor Graeme Cambage. He said of the project after the unveiling, "After Bobby Moore died, I thought there ought to be a statue of him but it's taken a long time to realise my dream".
The statue cost £725,000 in all, with £400,000 coming from a Government grant, and the bulk of the remainder from the football club. The cost included associated street improvements. Contributions also came from the Green Street Single Regeneration Budget, the Arts Council for England
, and Arts & Business.
and West Ham chairman Terry Brown
, during a ceremony at Newham Town Hall where Hurst, Peters and Wilson viewed a miniature model of the proposed statue. The statue itself took a year to complete.
, president of the Football Association. The plan to have the Duke of York unveil the statue was announced on 24 February 2003, on the tenth anniversary of Moore's death from cancer, aged 51.
Hurst, Peters and Wilson were joined by Moore's widow Stephanie at the unveiling. In the midst of a public campaign to give Moore the recognition of a British honour, rarely given posthumously, Prince Andrew inadvertently referred to Moore as "Sir Bobby" during the ceremony.
in 2003, described it as "stunning", and that it "radiates golden light and transforms a mundane road junction into a shrine both to England's finest hour and West Ham's contribution to the game in these isles".
Mick Dennis
writing for The Daily Mirror was critical of the work, stating the statues did not resemble the players.
1966 FIFA World Cup Final
The 1966 FIFA World Cup Final was the final match in the 1966 FIFA World Cup, the eighth football World Cup. The match was contested by England and West Germany on 30 July 1966 at Wembley Stadium in London, and had an attendance of 98,000. England won 4–2 after extra time to win the Jules Rimet...
located near West Ham United Football Club's
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
Boleyn Ground
Boleyn Ground
The Boleyn Ground, more commonly referred to as Upton Park due to its location in Upton Park, London is the football stadium of West Ham United.-History:...
(Upton Park) stadium in the London Borough of Newham
London Borough of Newham
The London Borough of Newham is a London borough formed from the towns of West Ham and East Ham, within East London.It is situated east of the City of London, and is north of the River Thames. According to 2006 estimates, Newham has one of the highest ethnic minority populations of all the...
, England. It depicts a famous victory scene photographed after the final, held at the old Wembley Stadium in London, featuring Bobby Moore
Bobby Moore
Robert Frederick Chelsea "Bobby" Moore, OBE was an English footballer. He captained West Ham United for more than ten years and was captain of the England team that won the 1966 World Cup...
, Geoff Hurst
Geoff Hurst
Sir Geoffrey Charles Hurst MBE is a retired England footballer best remembered for his years with West Ham. He made his mark in World Cup history as the only player to have scored a hat-trick in a World Cup final. His three goals came in the 1966 final for England in their 4–2 win over West...
, Martin Peters
Martin Peters
Martin Stanford Peters, MBE is a former football player and member of the victorious England team which won the 1966 World Cup as well as playing in the 1970 FIFA World Cup....
and Ray Wilson. It was the first and only time England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
had won the World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
, and England captain Moore is pictured held shoulder high, holding the Jules Rimet Trophy aloft. Jointly commissioned by Newham Council and West Ham United, it stands at the junction of Barking Road and Green Street, near the Boleyn Ground. It commemorates West Ham's contribution to the victory, with Moore, Hurst and Peters having all been West Ham players at the time of the 1966 World Cup
1966 FIFA World Cup
The 1966 FIFA World Cup, the eighth staging of the World Cup, was held in England from 11 July to 30 July. England beat West Germany 4–2 in the final, winning the World Cup for the first time, so becoming the first host to win the tournament since Italy in 1934.-Host selection:England was chosen as...
. Sculpted by the Royal Sculptor Philip Jackson
Philip Jackson (sculptor)
Philip Henry Christopher Jackson CVO is an award-winning Scottish sculptor, noted for his modern style and emphasis on form. Acting as Royal Sculptor to Queen Elizabeth II, his sculptures appear in numerous UK cities, as well as Argentina and Switzerland.His twice life-size bronze statue of...
, it was unveiled in 2003 by Prince Andrew
Prince Andrew, Duke of York
Prince Andrew, Duke of York KG GCVO , is the second son, and third child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
, president of the Football Association. Jackson went on to also sculpt the Bobby Moore Sculpture
Bobby Moore Sculpture
The Bobby Moore statue is a bronze sculpture of the former West Ham and England footballer Bobby Moore, situated outside England's national stadium, Wembley Stadium, in London...
, unveiled at the new Wembley
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
when it opened in 2007.
Statue
The work, titled by Jackson as The Champions or The World Cup Sculpture, is a one-and-a-half times life-size bronze piece, 16 feet (4.9 m) tall, weighing four tonnes. It stands in a prominent location at the junction of Barking Road (the A124) and Green StreetGreen Street, London
Green Street is a road in the London Borough of Newham, England. There is an official website for this road.The southern portion is the location of the Boleyn Ground, home to West Ham United...
in the London Borough of Newham, close to the home stadium of West Ham, the Boleyn Ground (commonly called Upton Park).
Inspiration
The statue was inspired by the victory scenes in the immediate aftermath of the 1966 World Cup final. Moore, Hurst, Peters and Wilson had just been part of the England side which defeated West Germany in a famous 4-2 extra time victory over Germany in the final held on home soil, at the old 1923 built Wembley stadium (since replaced by the new Wembley StadiumWembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
opened in 2007).
In that final, Moore was the team captain and a central defender, while Wilson served as full back alongside him. Peters in midfield, and Hurst as one of the strikers, were the England goalscorers on the day of the final, with Hurst scoring the first goal in the first half, Peters scoring in the second half, and Hurst scoring two more in extra time to complete a famous World Cup hat-trick and secure victory.
Jackson used as his subject material a series of photographs taken during a 12-second period after the game. In a scene described by the Football Association as "one of the enduring post-match images", Moore was pictured holding the Jules Rimet World Cup Trophy
FIFA World Cup Trophy
The World Cup is a gold trophy that is awarded to the winners of the FIFA World Cup. Since the advent of the World Cup in 1930, two trophies have represented victory: the Jules Rimet Trophy from 1930 to 1970, and the FIFA World Cup Trophy from 1974 to the present day.The trophy, originally named...
above his head, while he himself is being held shoulder high by Hurst and Wilson, while Peters completes the scene. Jackson exercised some artistic license to not depict Wilson's expression entirely accurately, as he had been grimacing due to taking much of Moore's weight, stating "I didn't think he would mind".
Wilson, described by the FA as a "normally reserved" man, later said of the events depicted, "Nearly all the other players were celebrating around the pitch and they needed someone to help lift Bobby, Otherwise I would not have been there, believe me."
Commissioning
The statue was commissioned jointly by West Ham United and Newham London Borough CouncilNewham London Borough Council
Newham London Borough Council is the local authority for the London Borough of Newham in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in the United Kingdom capital of London. The council is unusual in that its executive function is controlled by a directly elected mayor of...
, where the club resides. At the time of the final, Moore, Hurst and Peters were all West Ham players, while Wilson was with Everton F.C.
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
The statue was the idea of Newham councillor Graeme Cambage. He said of the project after the unveiling, "After Bobby Moore died, I thought there ought to be a statue of him but it's taken a long time to realise my dream".
The statue cost £725,000 in all, with £400,000 coming from a Government grant, and the bulk of the remainder from the football club. The cost included associated street improvements. Contributions also came from the Green Street Single Regeneration Budget, the Arts Council for England
Arts Council England
Arts Council England was formed in 1994 when the Arts Council of Great Britain was divided into three separate bodies for England, Scotland and Wales. It is a non-departmental public body of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport...
, and Arts & Business.
Production
The project was announced on 18 October 2001 by Newham Council leader, Sir Robin WalesRobin Wales
Sir Robin Andrew Wales is a Labour Party politician and current Mayor of the London Borough of Newham- Early life :Wales was born in Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, Scotland in 1955, and was educated at the University of Glasgow where he read Chemistry and was chair of the Glasgow University Labour Club...
and West Ham chairman Terry Brown
Terry Brown (football chairman)
Terence "Terry" Brown is the former chairman and Honorary Life President of English Football League Championship football club West Ham United.During his time as chairman of West Ham he was often portrayed as someone unpopular with West Ham fans...
, during a ceremony at Newham Town Hall where Hurst, Peters and Wilson viewed a miniature model of the proposed statue. The statue itself took a year to complete.
Unveiling
The statue was unveiled on 28 April 2003 by Prince Andrew, Duke of YorkPrince Andrew, Duke of York
Prince Andrew, Duke of York KG GCVO , is the second son, and third child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
, president of the Football Association. The plan to have the Duke of York unveil the statue was announced on 24 February 2003, on the tenth anniversary of Moore's death from cancer, aged 51.
Hurst, Peters and Wilson were joined by Moore's widow Stephanie at the unveiling. In the midst of a public campaign to give Moore the recognition of a British honour, rarely given posthumously, Prince Andrew inadvertently referred to Moore as "Sir Bobby" during the ceremony.
Reception
Paul Hayward, writing in The Daily TelegraphThe Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
in 2003, described it as "stunning", and that it "radiates golden light and transforms a mundane road junction into a shrine both to England's finest hour and West Ham's contribution to the game in these isles".
Mick Dennis
Mick Dennis
Mick Dennis is a sports writer and broadcaster. He has written for The Sun, The Sunday Times, The Daily Mirror, The Daily Telegraph and the London Evening Standard. Since December 2003, he has been the football correspondent of The Daily Express...
writing for The Daily Mirror was critical of the work, stating the statues did not resemble the players.