Mansfield Town

The Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK is encouraging men, women and children to wear football shirts on Friday 27 April to raise money for research into bowel cancer.

The campaign, named ‘Football Shirt Friday,’ will run for the sixth successive year next week, and encourages people to wear a football shirt to work or school, along with donating £5 to the Bobby Moore fund.

Football Shirt Friday is inspired by the iconic photo of England legend Bobby Moore at the 1970 World Cup, when he swapped shirts with Brazil’s Pelé. This has been seen as a mark of respect between players across the world ever since.

The charity aims to raise £25m this year to commemorate Moore, who passed away from bowel cancer 25 years ago today.

Several well-known former footballers are supporting the campaign, including former England internationals David Seaman and Alan Shearer.

“Football Shirt Friday is a campaign that’s close to my heart and is so important in raising vital funds to beat bowel cancer sooner,” said former Arsenal 'keeper Seaman.

“Bobby was a true hero and a real inspiration to many, so whatever you’re doing on Friday 27^th April, make sure you’re wearing your football shirt.”

Football pundit and Premier League record goal-scorer Shearer said: “Bobby was an incredible individual who was taken too soon.

“His memory serves as a reminder of why it’s so important to get involved in fundraising initiatives like Football Shirt Friday. So get your shirt on and donate £5 to life-saving research.”

Moore’s widow, Stephanie, set up the Bobby Moore Fund in partnership with Cancer Research UK in 1993 to raise money for research into the disease.

“We want to see the whole nation supporting Football Shirt Friday, by proudly wearing their team’s colours and joining together in the fight against bowel cancer,” she said.

“It’s 25 years since Bobby died and in that time mortality rates for bowel cancer have fallen by more than 30 per cent, but sadly it still kills 44 people in the UK every day.

“By uniting with friends and colleagues to fundraise for the Bobby Moore Fund, we can make even more progress and bring forward the day when bowel cancer is cured.”

To donate £5 to the Bobby Moore fund, text BOBBY to 70200. Texts cost £5 plus one standard rate text. Cancer Research UK receives £4.89.

Full terms and conditions can be found at www.cruk.org/text. For more information visit www.bobbymoorefund.org