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Labour MPs demand West Ham keep 1966 World Cup winners statue at Upton Park

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Image for Labour MPs demand West Ham keep 1966 World Cup winners statue at Upton Park

Three Labour MPS say West Ham should commission a new statue at the London Stadium and let the original sculpture of the club’s World Cup winner stay where it is.

In a letter sent to the Evening Standard this morning, Stephen Timms, Lyn Brown and Mike Gapes wrote that the statue on Barking Road near to the former Boleyn Ground should remain as “a source of great pride to the local community”.

The ultimate decision as to whether the statue will move is down to Newham council.

‘The World Cup Sculpture’, or simply ‘The Champions’, depicts a famous victory scene photographed after the 1966 final at the old Wembley.

The statue features Hammers legends Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst, Martin Peters along with former Everton great Ray Wilson.

It was sculpted by Philip Jackson and has stood at the junction between Green Street and Barking Road since it was unveiled in 2003.

West Ham’s owners applied to Newham council to move the statue at the of last year but have faced increasing opposition from councillors and locals alike.

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Aidan Lonergan is a journalist based in Romford. He can be followed on Twitter at @ajlonergan.