Ransom note for the Jules Rimet Trophy, 1966

Rimet Trophy

Dear Joe,
N
kno doubt you view with very great concern the loss of the world cup to me
it is only so much weight in scrap gold so if you want to see it again I suggest you do as I say and follow my instruction
first if the press or police are informed of this, this cup with go into the melting pot admitted i only get a fraction of the money i want but i shall be safe and you lose the cup forever but if you are willing to pay me ££15,000 in £5 and £1 pound notes you shall have your cup back and you will be satisfied and so will the rest of the WORLD.
If you agree with this followT these instructions.
insert in thursdays Evening News Personal Column. Willing to do business signed. Joe.
Second contact will be by phone to Chelsea F.C.
Find enclosed top of World Cup. to prove Genuine.
IS TRESS ONCE AGAIN THAT THIS CUP IS ONLY SO MUCH SCRAP TO ME AND REPEAT AND DO NOT INFORM PRESS OR POLICE.
It would be a great pity to destroy this cup in view of its great history and beauty it portrays.
if i do not hear from you by Thursdays or Friday at the latest assume its one for the POT.

The National Archives, DPP 2/4167

Rimet Trophy

England football team’s only chance (to date) to hold the World Cup was almost ruined in 1966. One Sunday four months before the tournament someone swiped the Jules Rimet Trophy from its temporary display at Central Hall Westminster.

Rimet Trophy

A jumbled ransom note was sent to Joseph Mears, Chairman of Chelsea F.C. and the Football Association, in a package containing the trophy’s gold lid.

Rimet Trophy

Photo: Jonas de Carvalho, Flickr

Rimet Trophy

In a follow-up phone call second-hand car dealer and petty thief Edward Betchley (operating under the alias ‘Jackson’) arranged a rendezvous with the football authorities.

Rimet Trophy

The task of retrieving the precious cup fell to Detective Inspector Leonard Buggy of the Metropolitan Police Flying Squad. On Friday 25 March Buggy met with Betchley, but the thief was spooked by an undercover police car. After a cops-and-robbers style chase, Betchley was taken to Kennington police station, where he refused to share the location of the trophy.

Rimet Trophy

As it turned out, the cup was discovered two days later by dog Pickles and his walker, David Corbett, buried under a bush in south east London. Thanks to Pickles (and some outstanding football), Bobby Moore lifted the trophy on 30 July 1966.

Rimet Trophy

Photo: Alamy

Rimet Trophy

In a final twist, the trophy was successfully stolen in Rio de Janeiro in 1983, never to be found.

The National Archives, DPP 2/4167