The family of England football legend Bobby Moore has initiated a High Court action to reclaim his iconic red No. 6 jersey from the 1966 World Cup Final, a shirt that has been missing for decades. Tina Moore, Bobby Moore's former wife, has filed a case against Neville Evans, a Welsh businessman and football memorabilia collector, alleging he possesses or can help locate the shirt.
Moore's family maintains that the jersey, a symbol of England's sole World Cup victory, rightfully belongs to them. Tina Moore stated that Bobby gave her the shirt, and it disappeared years ago from her attic. She believes Mr. Evans likely has the shirt or knows its whereabouts, and that the family deserves answers.
The No. 6 shirt, estimated to be worth over £1 million, was last seen over 30 years ago. After Bobby and Tina Moore divorced in 1986, he gave her his memorabilia, including shirts, medals, trophies, and his OBE. This collection also reportedly included the yellow shirt Bobby Moore swapped with Brazilian legend Pelé after the 1970 World Cup.
A Mysterious Disappearance and Reappearance
The shirts were believed to be stored together in a leather bag in the attic. The family lost track of their whereabouts until 2021, when the Football Association informed them that the England shirt had been "found" and photographed for a coffee table book. The family saw images of the shirt in the book, titled "Three Lions On A Shirt: The Official History Of The England Football Jersey," but neither the FA, the publishers, nor the authors could identify the shirt's owner. Notably, one of the book's authors was Neville Evans.
Following the family's inquiries, the unknown owner reportedly became apprehensive and withdrew the shirt from the book, causing it to vanish again. In 2023, another author of the book, Daren Burney, stated that the shirt was "no longer under the same ownership" and its current location was unknown.
More recently, in 2024, a source claimed to have seen the shirt at Mr. Evans's home in Wales. The Moore family's solicitors contacted Mr. Evans, but he did not directly confirm or deny possession. His solicitor indicated a response would follow, but it never materialized.
Businessman Denies Possession, Vows to Fight
In a statement following inquiries from the Daily Mail, Mr. Evans denied currently holding the shirt. He stated, "I do not have the shirt, and I categorically deny that any of the shirts that I own have been obtained in anything other than an entirely lawful and reputable way." He expressed pride in his collection and vowed to vigorously defend any claim, asserting the allegations lacked substance.
If Mr. Evans fails to file a defense in court, he could be ordered to return the shirt if it is in his possession or pay its value. Bobby Moore died of cancer in 1993 at the age of 51. His daughter, Roberta Moore, emphasized the shirt's preciousness to the family and stated they have been left with no option but to pursue legal action.