 For many years it has been speculated that the late great Bobby Moore appeared for one of the clubs's youth teams, although we do not have any definite proof to back this assertion up. There is also the story of the young Bobby coming to the Vicarage Field for a trial and being told by then manager of the Blues that he should stick to cricket !!!! Late in his career the club did try and sign Bobby but the fee requested by Fulham to release his registration was out of our reach. Bobby as manager of Oxford City brought his team to Mayesbrook Park in January 1980
However, we now know that Bobby did wear the blue of Barking but perhaps not in the way many of us would of envisaged. With thanks to Mr Brian Speak of Dagenham who lent club the below photos we can now see this as a fact - however, details of the match they were taken at are less clear. Mr Speak claims the match was in conjunction with Bobby's testimonial (which was a game against Celtic at Upton Park in November 1970) - in the first photo Bobby is shaking hands with Cllr Vic Rusha who was mayor of Barking & Dagenham for the period 1969-70. A West Ham United programme from August 1971 offers an alternative theory - it advertises a charity match between a London Fire Brigade XI and a ex-Spurs All Stars XI at the Vicarage Field on Sunday September 12th. It goes onto say that the then assistant manager of West Ham, John Lyall would be guesting for the Spurs side. Looking at the team line-up photo one team is definitely wearing Tottenham colours and fourth from the left is John Lyall - could this be the game??
Where you at the match ? can you remember Bobby Moore gracing the Vicarage Field ? if so please get in touch via archive@barking-fc.co.uk
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