Praise For Museum

The West Ham United museum is, of course, open for viewing during the week - and well worth a visit.

It has the seal of approval of Bobby Moore's family, who have all been there, and daughter Roberta says:

"It was an honour to be at the opening of the museum recently - and it is exactly what dad would have wanted.

"We all have special memories of him and his part in something etched in our nation's history.

"He was a giant of a man in his own quiet, unassuming, way - he was a gentleman and a gentle man."

Former wife Tina adds:

"It is fantastic; I am so happy because I think everything that Bobby treasured, all his possessions, are in the right place.

"Upton Park was the place he felt at home, and it is exactly right; it is unbelievable to see all the stuff that I spent hours polishing with a toothbrush!

"It is where everything should be exactly as it is with people looking at it.

"I am just delighted and thrilled; I treasure everything in there because it meant a lot to us.

"He was a very modest man and also a very proud one, and what you can see at the museum is what Bobby had to display and admire when Bobby was here.

"Bobby has come to rest."

Former England and West Ham colleague Martin Peters, whose England World Cup medal sits alongside that of Bobby's and Sir Geoff Hurst's, adds:

"Bobby gave everything in every game, and was the first out and the last in when it came to training.

"For me, Ron Greenwood changed everything and it was good to be part of that.

"Now, hopefully, the club will come away from the bottom of the table."

Bobby's son Dean was also delighted to visit the museum recently and says:

"I had a lovely day, but it was a bit nerve wracking because it was so emotional.

""It is a fantastic museum and it was great to be back; they have done the family proud - and dad especially.

"It is spectacular, brilliant, and it is just nice to see all the old stuff again which I haven't seen for about 10 years.

"They have done a really good job and I will be coming back again to see everything.

"They have done it justice and I am sure my dad would have been very, very proud of it - I am.

"They have kept his memory alive which is the right thing to do; it is a reminder of the good times - and hopefully there will be plenty more to come.

"My sister is overjoyed by the museum and Bobby's granddaughter Poppy loves it as well."

Dean adds that he does get to watch the Hammers when he can and says:

"I have got season tickets but I work on a Saturday as well so it is very hard.

"I am going to bring Poppy over a couple of times this season - right behind the dugout!"

The museum traces the origins of the club formed by the Thames Ironworks shipbuilding company, that started in Canning Town in 1846.

Arnold Hills, the Old Harrovian who had 6000 employees - and is the only Englishman mentioned in Gandhi's autobiography - started the football club in 1895 amongst a lot of societies to give the workers something productive to do other than simply drinking in the local pubs.

It is the only British club and possibly the only club in Europe still controlled by the families that founded it.

The museum houses one of the most important football collections in the world - so see for yourself.