World Cup-winning footballer Sir Geoff Hurst has officially opened a secondary school named in honour of his former team-mate Bobby Moore.
He visited the Bobby Moore Academy’s secondary campus Wednesday, where he unveiled a plaque, met staff and pupils and watched some of the school’s young footballers in a training session.
Sir Geoff, who played with Moore for both West Ham and England, said of the school being named after his friend and colleague: “Knowing Bobby, he’d probably be slightly embarrassed.
“He wasn’t conceited, he was very down to earth with all the success he had as a player.
“What he achieved, it never showed in his behaviour. Off the field, he was just an ordinary, down to earth guy.”
He added: “It is a wonderful school and a fitting tribute to a man who led by example, believed in something, worked tirelessly to achieve it and did so with dignity and humility.”
Sir Geoff spoke fondly of the man he called Mooro, saying: “People ask me who’s the best player I played with and that’s easy, Bobby Moore.
“I played more games with him at West Ham than any other player so I got to know him well, not only as a player but as a captain and a leader.”
The all-through school is run by the David Ross Educational Trust and currently has Year 7 and 8 pupils at the secondary site and reception classes at the primary site, which was originally occupied by the then-Year 7 pupils when it opened last year.
Sir Geoff Hurst MBE is interviewed by pupils for the school newspaper. Picture: Ken MearsSir Geoff Hurst MBE is interviewed by pupils for the school newspaper. Picture: Ken Mears
Executive principal Dr Lawrence Foley said: “This is an important moment for us as a school to open the secondary building. Although we are two buildings, we are one school.
“Today is about our pupils and the thousands of pupils who are going to attend over the coming decades.”
He told how the school’s eventual 1,500-strong cohort would benefit from all that Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park has to offer, and how he hoped to make it the best in the country.
Chairman and sponsor David Ross added: “Our vision for Bobby Moore Academy was to create a lasting legacy from London 2012. It is a school that our community can be rightly proud of.”