May 25 – Bobby’s BogotÃ¡ Bracelet Burglary Bust-up

THE summer of 1970 was an eventful one for Bobby Moore. He would lead the Three Lions in their unsuccessful defence of the World Cup in Mexico, producing ‘the greatest tackle ever’ when Jairzinho tried his luck in the classic clash against Brazil. Today in 1970 though, he was in the headlines for all the wrong reasons as he was accused of stealing a bracelet from a Colombian jewellers.

England were in BogotÃ¡ to play a warm-up game for the tournament when Moore and Booby Charlton had gone to find a gift for the Manchester United man’s wife, Norma. As the pair left the shop, the owner Danilo Rojas called the police, claiming that Moore had half-inched an emerald and diamond bracelet. It appeared that nothing would become of the incident, as neither of the players were arrested and both played in England’s 4-0 win over Columbia.

The team flew off to Quito in Ecuador for another friendly, but when their plane to Mexico stopped over in Columbia the squad were met with armed police who arrested Moore. The England captain was then placed under house arrest at the home of the Director of Columbian football, Alfonso Senior.

This wasn’t as bad as it could have been, as the two armed guards tasked with keeping an eye on him were too hungover to accompany him on his morning walks, making him promise he would return to the house.

Following a reconstruction Moore was eventually released as the case collapsed when it emerged that the tracksuit he was wearing didn’t have any pockets. Moore then hot-footed it to Mexico where he would play in the epic clash with Brazil, but couldn’t prevent his side crashing out to West Germany.

Since 1970 conspiracy theorists have searched for reasons why Moore was arrested, citing a plot to stop England winning the World Cup or that Moore was covering for one of his fellow players who swiped the bracelet. A recent investigation also suggested it was the work of a “woman with links to the underworld.”

We’re sure that, as Mulder and Scully would tell you, the truth is out there, but until we find out you can sit back and enjoy some of his finest moments and come back tomorrow for Nick Hornby’s favourite ever goal.