Sir Geoff Hurst, the hat-trick hero from England's 1966 World Cup victory, has joined the campaign to locate and recover the famous red jersey worn by captain Bobby Moore during the final. Hurst, 84, is the last surviving member of that legendary team and has appealed to the current holder of the shirt to return it to Moore's family.
Tina Moore, Bobby Moore's widow, has initiated legal proceedings in the High Court against Neville Evans, a Welsh businessman and sports memorabilia dealer. The claim alleges that Evans possesses the No. 6 shirt or has knowledge of its whereabouts. The jersey, worn by Moore when he lifted the World Cup trophy, has been missing for decades. It was last known to be in the attic of the home Tina shared with Bobby before their divorce.
Moore's shirt resurfaced in 2021, photographed for the Football Association in the possession of a private individual for a book co-authored by Evans. Tina Moore has stated she has no idea how the shirt went missing but is adamant it belongs to her family.
Evans has denied currently holding the shirt, asserting that he has never acquired any football memorabilia unlawfully and feels he is being unfairly targeted. His legal team has stated he will contest the claim.
"That shirt belongs with the family. I think that's what Mooro would want, and that's what should happen," Sir Geoff Hurst told The Mail on Sunday. "I don't know what happened to that shirt, but it is more important now than ever. It was the only time we've ever won the World Cup and every England fan cherishes those amazing photos from the day. Whoever has the shirt should help the family get it back."
Tina and her daughter Roberta had been searching for the shirt for years before being informed by the FA in 2021 that it had appeared in the hands of a private buyer who had acquired it at a mystery auction. Evans was identified as potentially having the shirt in 2024, when a source reportedly informed Tina's representatives that they had seen it at his residence. Lawyers for Tina Moore noted in court filings that Evans's refusal to clarify his possession of the shirt