Moore dies after cancer battle
About the article
This is a digitised version of an article from The Cayman Compass's print archive. Occasionally, the digitisation process introduces transcription errors, or other problems.
See the article in its original context from February 1993.
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His death still came as a shock to the soccer fraternity as only one week ago he took up his usual commentary position for a London radio station at England's soccer international against San Marino.
Fittingly, his last public appearance was in the Wembley stadium where he enjoyed the finest moment of his career, lifting the World Cup trophy in 1966, after beating West Germany 4-2 in the final.
Moore's wife Stephanie said: "The family would like to thank all the people who sent messages of support and comfort in the last few days. That was such a help to us all.” His wife, whom he married only in December 1991 after his first marriage ended in divorce, said she was very proud of her husband and called him "a medical miracle".
Moore revealed on February 14 he was fighting cancer which had been diagnosed in his liver and colon.
In a career that spanned 19 years, Moore played 1,000 league games for West ham United and Fulham and made a then-record 108 appearances for England.
Football players were joined by politicians in paying tribute to Moore, describing him as a man of dignity and stature and one of the immortal legends of soccer. British Prime Minister John Major, in Washington for a meeting with U.S. President Bill Clinton, said: "Bobby Moore will always be one of the immortals of soccer. He enhanced sport by his example and his behavior as well as his skill."
Pele of Brazil said: "The world has lost one of the greatest football players and a wonderful gentleman."
Sir Alf Ramsey, the manager of England's 1966 World Cup-winning squad, called Moore "the heartbeat of the team."
The London Club West Ham United, for which Moore played from 1958 to 1974, paid its own quiet tribute Wednesday night.
A bunch of flowers was tied to its main gate together with a soccer shirt in the club's claret and blue colors bearing the number 6, the number fans best remember Moore playing under with the club.
Tributes flooded in for Moore, who was one of Britain's best loved and most respected former sportsmen at a time when the national game of soccer is increasingly criticized for dirty play and lack of international success.
England may face a rest-of-the-world team at Wembley Stadium this year in a tribute to their football hero.
