Hurst hat-trick shirt goes home

6:50am Saturday 11th October 2008

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The football shirt worn by Sir Geoff Hurst in the 1966 World Cup Final will return to Wembley today thanks to an Oxfordshire businessman.

Property investor Andrew Leslau fronted a group of collectors who recently bought the hat-trick hero's shirt.

He plans to take it to the World Cup qualifying match against Kazakhstan at Wembley Stadium, in London, which kicks off at 5.15pm. The match is being broadcast on ITV.

Mr Leslau, of Milton Common, hoped the shirt — insured for £1m — would be a talisman for fans and spur on the team to victory.

He said: "This is the most important shirt in English football history — not just the most valuable and most expensive in the world.

"But, more importantly, he is the icon of England's greatest sporting moment and I will be proud to bring the shirt back to Wembley.

"The stadium might have changed, but the shirt is the ultimate reminder of the England team's most glorious day. We could do with some of that glory today."

Sir Geoff wore the shirt when England beat West Germany 4-2 to win the World Cup at Wembley in 1966.

Mr Leslau would not say how much was paid for the shirt, which was bought from a collector who paid £91,750 at Christie's for it at auction in 2000.

The group bought it as part of a collection, which included the cup final shirts of Roger Hunt and West Germans Wolfgang Weber and Lothar Emmerich, as well as a German pennant presented to England captain Bobby Moore before kick-off.

The shirt is being kept in a bank vault before being taken to the match and will be closely guarded when it arrives at Wembley.

Mr Leslau said: "We will take it to the FA club room and ITV will be there to do a little piece on the shirt."

The businessman said negotiations were still taking place with the FA to see whether it might be possible to take the shirt on to the pitch before the kick-off.

He said: "I hope people will be able to reconnect with the spirit that saw us sweeping to victory in 1966."

Following the game, Mr Leslau hoped the long-term future of the shirt would see it going on exhibition for all the nation to enjoy.

He said: "It should not be hidden away in a bank vault somewhere. We do think it's as valuable as a Damien Hirst, but nonetheless, we want it seen by football fans in an appropriate and fitting home."