Taylor-made success

Photo: Anthony Miller

OLDHAM Athletic’s Chris Taylor and football fan Jack Picton (7) used the Bobby boot to spin some good luck magic for the England squad

Latics winger’s message of support for World Cup squad . . . with a little help from England legend

OLDHAM Athletic winger Chris Taylor created his own bit of footie magic to bring some World Cup luck to England.

The player rubbed the boot of football legend Bobby Moore and made his good luck wish at the doors of Cancer Research UK’s Oldham shop in Market Place.

A bronze cast of the footballing legend’s left boot, which helped clinch England’s 1966 World Cup win, is touring the country to rally support for both the charity and the England football team.

It supports the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research, and heralds the arrival of a range of products to wow England fans.

The football legend, the only player ever to have captained England to World Cup triumph, died of bowel cancer in 1993 at the age of 51.

Proceeds from World Cup merchandise from the charity’s shops will go to the Bobby Moore Fund, which was set up by his widow, Stephanie, and so far raised more than £12 million for bowel cancer research.

Customers at the Oldham shop also got the chance to rub the boot, and write a message of support in a special book to bring the England team luck. The bronze cast was made from the left boot worn by defender Bobby in 1966 when he made the famous pass to scorer Geoff Hurst that won the cup for England in the final few moments of the game.

Oldham’s Chris Taylor said: “It may have been 44 years ago, but Bobby Moore is still a hero to us today. His name will always be one of the sporting greats.

“He is an inspiration to us and everyone who loves football. We wish the England squad all the luck in the world.”

Ann Taylor, manager of the Oldham Cancer Research shop, added: “We were thrilled to have such an iconic piece of footballing history in our shop.

“We are as football mad as the rest of the country, and have all the England kit any fan could need, including flags and water bottles, hanging dice, the Bobby Moore Fund mug and the red England T-shirt with Bobby’s iconic number 6 on the back.”

Bobby’s boot will be auctioned off in aid of the fund at the end of the tour.