Hammers retire No6 shirt in memory of Moore
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West Ham United have decided to retire the No6 shirt in honour of their former captain and England great Bobby Moore.
Moore made his debut 50 years ago this September and to commemorate the occasion the Hammers have decided to retire the number that was made famous by the former centre-half in both West Ham and England colours.
"When we were talking about ways to mark 50 years since Bobby Moore's debut, there was only one true gesture that would do him justice - retiring the No6 shirt he made his own," explained the West Ham's chief executive officer Scott Duxbury on the club's official website.
Moore was 17-years-old when he made his first appearance in the claret and blue of the senior side against Manchester United in September 1958 and it is an occasion that will also be marked this Saturday by a friendly match against Villarreal in the inaugural Bobby Moore Cup.
In a distinguished 16-year career at the club, Moore became his club's most successful captain, winning the FA Cup in 1964 and the European Cup Winners' Cup the following season. He also made 544 appearances for the Hammers, won 108 England caps and remains the only England captain to have lifted the World Cup – a feat achieved at Wembley in 1966. Moore died from bowel cancer at the age of 51 in 1993.
Matthew Upson, the England defender who wore the No6 for West Ham last season, will now don the No 15 shirt.