Bobby Moore: The Man In Full – Book Review
I have read many football-related autobiographies and biographies over the years, gaining a better understanding into the careers of some of the game’s best-known faces. I remember going into a local charity shop and buying lots of autobiographies when I was 17 years old. One particular book that I wanted to read detailed the life of England’s most-respected captain, a man who demonstrated excellent leadership skills and who cemented a god-like legacy in London’s East End.
That man was, of course, former West Ham United and England captain Bobby Moore. Moore was a dominant force on the field, never being afraid to commit to a tackle or command his fellow teammates to tighten up their gameplay. Loyal Hammers fans saw the prolific No. 6 as a gentleman who had the whole footballing world loathing over him – but he was not the same person away from the limelight.
Bobby Moore: The Man In Full is the work of sports journalist Matt Dickinson. Dickinson carefully and explicitly examines Moore’s attributes and personality as a player, quoting former teammates, authors and coaches. However, he provides a strong, clear contrast to the man that West Ham fans came to adore. Dickinson describes a reclusive man who battled marital and legal troubles, as well as a player who became gradually dissatisfied with many personnel.
On plain paper, 1966 was a triumphant year for Moore. Not only did he captain England to World Cup glory on home soil, but he won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year. Winning football’s greatest prize meant that England’s captain was on the same level as Eusebio, Beckenbauer and Pelé. These were amazing accomplishments, considering that Moore was only 25 years old and that he played for a lesser-known team in West Ham.
However, Dickinson suggests that Moore sometimes played for West Ham with great reluctance. One strong examples of this attitude was shown in the months leading up to that unforgettable summer. Moore developed a strong social life and frequently attended team gatherings at pubs near the stadium. He began sneaking out of hotel rooms to drink at local bars, often filling up train carriages with boxes of lager for away trips. Although Sir Alf Ramsey was full of praise for Moore, Ron Greenwood began to notice negative effects on his captain’s weekly performances. Greenwood decided to strip Moore of the armband, much to the media’s shock. Moore seemed likely to leave West Ham – something he had tried to force before.
Dickinson provides a balanced argument regarding both Moore and Greenwood’s responses to what was considered drastic action. He implies that Moore had mixed emotions at the time; he longed for a move to Tottenham Hotspur, yet he needed to be contracted to go to the World Cup. Dickinson eventually concludes that Moore signed a one-month deal with West Ham purely to fulfill his World Cup dream. Winning the World Cup helped more to understand how much he meant to his boyhood club, and he signed a longer deal.
Elimination from the 1970 World Cup in Mexico proved to start a downfall in Moore’s career. Greenwood noticed that Moore had started gaining weight, was becoming less technical, and not getting any younger. Moore also began to falter at international and eventually dropped for good, making his last appearance against Italy in November 1973. Moore left West Ham one year later to join Fulham and ended his playing days in the United States.
Moore’s contributions on the pitch were there for all to see, but he was not the serious, head-in-the-game defender that people may recall him to be. The book delves deep into his character and roles within his family. As Moore’s career grew, his wife and children grew accustomed to the trials and tribulations of having a famous footballer in their lives.
Dickinson paints the picture of a married couple who went through many emotions and challenges, mainly because of Bobby’s playing career. He describes the celebrity-like status the couple earned following the World Cup, experiencing the high life of the 1960s. From having dinner with Sean Connery to meeting Frank Sinatra, the Moores appeared to live like royalty – or so outsiders thought.
Tina gives a personal insight into her relationship with Bobby, and she believes that his quiet persona was a protective shield against criticism. Moore was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 1965 and had a testicle removed, but Tina and Moore’s closest teammates attest that he never mentioned it. Dickinson writes that Moore feared being considered weak or unfit to play, so he played through the pain as a result. Moore returned to full health after he had undergone surgery; however, the author notes that radiation treatment may have caused Moore to develop bowel cancer 27 years later.
Moore’s second battle with cancer was harder and more aggressive than the first stint. Friends and journalists did not know of Moore’s cancer until late 1992 to early 1993. Moore spent a few weeks with friends across the country, but they did not realize that he was actually saying his goodbyes. Moore admitted that he had bowel cancer in February 1993, and he passed away shortly after. He was 51 years old.
Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters, Moore’s long-serving West Ham teammates and fellow internationals, may be regarded as Moore’s best friends during their time at West Ham. A statue close to the old site of the Boleyn Ground features the England trio, showing them lifting the World Cup trophy high. However, Hurst does not discuss the good memories with his club and country’s leader. A newer statue was unveiled next to the London Stadium in late 2021.
Hurst can recall only one time where he and Moore shared the celebrations after a win. Hurst says that he was sitting in the dressing room after a First Division game when Moore walked over to congratulate Hurst’s goals. The striker admits that he was surprised yet pleased to hear such praise from Moore, and he did not know how to react.
Hurst can recall only one time where he and Moore shared the celebrations after a win. Hurst says that he was sittingn in the dressing room after a First Division game when Moore walked over to congratulate Hurst’s goals. The striker admits that he was surprised yet pleased to hear such praise from Moore.
Moore deserves to have his name in English footballing folklore because of the impact he had on the country’s game. Having said that, it is only easy to see the man for the footballer he was, not the person he was. This same idea can be applied to most sports personalities and celebrities; their successes in their respective industries overshadow their private lives and true feelings.
Moore felt many struggles throughout his career, especially due to tensions between Greenwood and himself. Dickinson’s view is that Moore often stayed committed to West Ham to either satisfy Ramsey or to stop any rumours from spreading. The captain eventually left West Ham due to his age and decline in ability, but that does not disregard the impact he made on the field and in helping his team win the 1964 F.A. Cup.
The quotes about more summarize his closed-book attitude. Greenwood said that he “will dry up in a minute” if he was asked about Moore. Sir Michael Parkinson says that “you realized you knew bugger all about him.” That is the exact reaction West Ham fans should expect.
Read the book, acknowledge this man’s legacy – but be prepared to see another side to England’s greatest defender.