Before most England games at Wembley, I meet friends for a quick catch-up on the concourse where the giant statue of Bobby Moore stands guard over the stadium. It’s a perfect congregation point, easily accessible with a vista down Olympic Way and an opportunity to pay a respectful nod to the great man.
The royal sculptor, Philip Jackson, did him proud. He recalls Moore’s wife Stephanie bursting into tears when seeing the statue for the first time. There are emotional edifices, especially when moulded by such empathetic hands as Jackson’s.
Wembley now needs a similar bronze figure for Sir Bobby Charlton, who won the European Cup as well as the World Cup there. It would be inspirational. Sir Alf Ramsey is immortalised by Jackson in the tunnel at Wembley, a nudge to players as they emerge from the England dressing room to reach for the stars.
Statues are special, a celebration of magical moments and giants of the game. Many grace English stadiums — too many to mention — but a very subjective personal top ten based partly on dramatic impact would be: the epic “United Trinity” of George Best, Denis Law and Charlton outside Old Trafford; West Ham United’s “The Champions” of Moore, Sir Geoff Hurst, Martin Peters and Ray Wilson near Upton Park; Billy Bremner, arms aloft, rallying the faithful outside Elland Road; the joyful Bob Stokoe celebrating Sunderland’s FA Cup victory of 1973 with the words “The Man, The Messiah, The Moment” engraved; “The Golden Boy” Wilf Mannion in the act of shooting outside the Riverside; Billy Wright running, ball in hand, outside the stand that bears his name at Molineux; Johnny Haynes, hands on hips, right foot on ball, at Craven Cottage (and thank heavens the off-the-wall idea of the Michael Jackson statue has been removed); the powerful Dixie Dean outside Goodison Park; Dennis Bergkamp’s balletic control of a dropping ball outside the Emirates; and my absolute, non-negotiable favourite: Sir Tom Finney’s “The Splash” outside Deepdale, which embodies his balance, determination and movement as well as the Preston Plumber’s ability to deal with water.
All of these are listed with apologies to two more Jackson creations that celebrate Sir Matt Busby and Peter Osgood. Other honourable mentions include the Bill Shankly “he made the people happy” sculpture, as well as statues of William McGregor, Alan Shearer and Sir Stanley Matthews in twisting, triplicate form and the “Legends of the Lane”, Jimmy Sirrel and Jack Wheeler. Further north, Jock Stein and John Greig make distinguished sentries outside Celtic Park and Ibrox respectively.
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Statues are not simply about looking back. They represent values needed now and in the future. Seeing a statue of Charlton at Wembley would be a reminder of his principles, as a football deity and human being, that should be cherished. Imagine a bronze “Bobby belting the ball”, to borrow from Skinner and Baddiel, capturing the power and glory of his football traits. Many of these attributes were paraded inside Wembley, particularly in the World Cup semi-final against Portugal in 1966 and the European Cup final against Benfica two years later.
⬤ Dinner with Sir Bobby Charlton that I’ll never forget
⬤ Bobby Charlton meant more because seeing him play was special
The Moore statue has become not simply a meeting point or selfie site. It’s become a talking point. Last week, before the Italy international, I got chatting to a father who was explaining to his son all about Moore’s achievements as a leader and composure as a defender. The father cannot have seen Moore play but he knew what made him great. One generation passes down knowledge to another.
A statue of Sir Bobby at Wembley would allow even more discourse of his many qualities as a man: polite, humble, uncomplaining, compassionate. Charlton played the game the right way and lived his life the right way. Imagine schools or grassroots clubs touring Wembley and then returning to the classroom or dressing room with chatter flowing about Sir Bobby, his goals and values.
They could talk about his loyalty to Sir Matt, to Sir Alex Ferguson, to his club. They could marvel at his strength in adversity, and how he somehow played on after the Munich air disaster. They could appreciate his sportsmanship, being booked only twice in 809 games for United and England. They could discuss respect for opponents and how Sir Matt, Charlton and the United team made sure that every club they beat on the way to Wembley in 1968 received two tickets to the final.
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They could debate how rivals could also be friends, and the connection between a United legend and Manchester City players that lasted a lifetime. They could reflect on what a team player Charlton was, even going in goal in training to allow others shooting practice. They could speak about his compassion for the disadvantaged and the vital work the Bobby Charlton Foundation does clearing mines in war zones.
They could deliberate on his quiet, strong patriotism and how even with 21 senior international appearances to his name, Charlton willingly reported for England Under-23 duty, winning even more respect for a particularly committed performance on a quagmire of a St James’ Park pitch against Gianni Rivera, Giovanni Trapattoni and “Young Italy” in 1960.
At 1-1, after a couple of mid-match pitch invasions that included photographers and in a continued downpour, Charlton “still tried desperately to get the English attack moving”, The Daily Mirror reported. He never gave up. The values Sir Bobby Charlton embodied and the memories he bequeathed a grateful nation and admiring world need honouring by the FA with a statue at Wembley.
Sandro Tonali faces the inevitable lengthy ban for betting on football but there is a wider point here about the game needing to address the problem among some young players.
The majority of footballers are largely good role models and it’s only a minority generating negative headlines, but certainly more education is required over gambling, not least the warning that in the 21st century “you will get caught”. Tonali’s name cropped up when an Italian state tax investigation began probing illegal betting syndicates.
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Only Tonali knows exactly how his addiction developed. What can be said generally about the issue in football is that players have to ensure they have right-minded people around them, those they can trust and especially those who will give good advice and steer them away from betting. An old school-mate receiving a screenshot of a desired bet should be a truer friend and outline the risks of being asked to place the bet. A truer friend would not take the bet but would take the player to a gambling addiction clinic.
Football, too, has to confront its own addiction to the betting industry’s money, however difficult that may be for clubs trying to balance the books post-lockdown (although steps are being made). The prevalence of betting advertising must make footballers feel it is acceptable, even when they know it is banned.
As innately competitive creatures, who back themselves to beat the bookie and crave adrenalin rushes, especially during the quiet periods between games, footballers will be lured to betting. They have the money and they have the access — either themselves as it is so simple online, or through “friends”. They are not involved in match-fixing, simply compulsion-feeding. If their dependence were on alcohol, albeit more visible than gambling, then friends, family and club might be quicker to intervene. The same response needs encouraging with gambling. The game has to educate young pros even more that they are role models, they have responsibilities, that gambling wrecks form and can destroy careers, families and friendships.
They should look around at what some of their professional peers are up to. More than 100 players, including Ilkay Gundogan, Yoane Wissa, Ben Davies and Tim Krul and the newly retired Phil Jones have already registered for the university-accredited Professional Footballers’ Association Business School. Better to hit the books than the bookies.
