8 September 1958 - Moore Makes His Mark

On 8 September 1958, 17-year old center back Bobby Moore made his debut for the West Ham senior side in a 3-2 win over Manchester United. He would go on to become the club's longest-serving captain while making a total of 646 appearances for the Hammers.

Born in 1941 in the town of Barking in northeast London, Moore joined the West Ham youth academy in 1956 at the age of 15. The next year, West Ham's veteran center back Malcolm Allison developed tuberculosis. His illness opened the door for Moore, who secured the starting position after his appearance on 8 September 1958, with the Hammers finishing in sixth place in the Division One table that season.

Moore, who developed a reputation as an intelligent and technically gifted defender, claimed the captain's armband in 1961 and retained it until his departure in 1974. During that time, the club generally languished mid-table, but won the 1964 FA Cup and 1965 European Cup Winners' Cup. Moore's greatest accomplishment, however, was captaining England to victory in the 1966 World Cup.

In 1974, with his ability declining, but his popularity intact, he moved to Fulham. He later played in the United States and Denmark before retiring in 1978.