West Ham United have decided to retire the No6 shirt in
honour of their former captain and England great Bobby
Moore.
Moore made his debut 50 years ago this September and to
commemorate the occasion the Hammers have decided to retire the
number that was made famous by the former centre-half in both West
Ham and England colours.
"When we were talking about ways to mark 50 years since Bobby
Moore's debut, there was only one true gesture that would do him
justice - retiring the No6 shirt he made his own," explained the
West Ham's chief executive officer Scott Duxbury on the club's
official website.
Moore was 17-years-old when he made his first appearance in the
claret and blue of the senior side against Manchester United in
September 1958 and it is an occasion that will also be marked this
Saturday by a friendly match against Villarreal in the inaugural
Bobby Moore Cup.
In a distinguished 16-year career at the club, Moore became his
club's most successful captain, winning the FA Cup in 1964 and the
European Cup Winners' Cup the following season. He also made 544
appearances for the Hammers, won 108 England caps and remains the
only England captain to have lifted the World Cup – a feat achieved
at Wembley in 1966. Moore died from bowel cancer at the age of 51
in 1993.
Matthew Upson, the England defender who wore the No6 for West
Ham last season, will now don the No 15 shirt.