Bo66y review: A must-see film on Bobby Moore — a hero ‘knighted’ by the people

Patrick Barclay1 April 2016

Of all the mysteries of our age, possibly the most baffling is this: why do documentary-makers feel they have to include a contribution, however brief, from Russell Brand, or someone like him?

And yet I doubt if anyone who watches the superb film about Bobby Moore to be premiered at Wembley in May will be complaining.

The producer, Matthew Lorenzo, uses Brand sparingly, and to excellent effect.

Early in the piece, West Ham’s most evident supporter since Alf Garnett refers to Moore as “Sir Bobby” and it lodges in the back of your mind until the closing sequences when, asked to explain his slip, Brand genially declares: “Some are knighted by monarchs. Others are knighted by the people.”

Well said. Many of us think of England’s World Cup-winning captain as a knight; we vaguely assume he was given the honour around the same time as Alf Ramsey.

West Ham's all-time England XI

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But that is not to support the campaign for Moore to be dubbed posthumously as part of the 1966 celebrations. The last thing we should do with his memory is sentimentally cheapen it.

Moore, who lifted the World Cup only 18 months after being diagnosed with testicular cancer — he kept the secret of a lost testicle from even his closest friends in football — died at 51 in 1993, a year before Bobby Charlton received the call from Buckingham Palace. Geoff Hurst was knighted in 1998, as was Tom Finney.

Stanley Matthews remains the only footballer to have been knighted while playing — and that would have been appropriate in the case of Moore, who, on the field, represented the ideal Englishman.

He had looks, bearing, dignity and restraint and neither of the last two prevented him from being one of the best players ever. If only he could be the template for a new generation.

Yet I imagine he would have approved of John Stones and, as a right-footer, not worried too much about using him on the left.

For a host of reasons, this is a film that must be seen.

Even if the title — “BO66Y” — is more like a number plate, it has a suitable class. Be prepared both to weep and feel profound respect.

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