The Strange Tale of the Jules Rimet Trophy

The golden trophy that is awarded to the eventualout of an old gangster movie. Mears contacted
winners of every FIFA World Cup tournament is theScotland Yard who began to put a plan into place.
most prized award in soccer. But the trophy that willBundles of counterfeit cash were created and two
be awarded to whatever team eventually is victoriousofficers were assigned to be with Mears at all times. In
in South Africa in 2010 will not be lifting the originalthe meantime he was sent home to wait for another
trophy, first awarded in 1930, but instead atelephone call.
replacement that has been in use since the original, theWhen the phone call did finally come the terrified
Jules Rimet trophy, was awarded in perpetuity toMears was in the throes of an asthma attack. His wife
Brazil in 1970, in recognition of their third World Cuphanded the phone to his assistant McPhee (who in real
Victory.But the story behind the fate of the Juleslife was Detective Inspector Buggy). "McPhee" was
Rimet trophy is a far stranger one than you mightinstructed to proceed, cash in hand, to the nearby
imagine.Battersea Park.
The trophy itself was first created for the first WorldBuggy proceeded, shadowed by a number of Flying
Cup in Uruguay in 1930. At that time it was officiallySquad colleagues in unmarked cars. At the gate he
known as the "Victory", it was not until 1946 that it wasmet up with a "Mr. Jackson" Buggy showed the man
renamed for man whose vision had beget thethe suitcase, and he failed to notice that the currency
competition in first place. It was a true work of art.was counterfeit. Buggy demanded to see the trophy
Designed by Abel Lafleur, its blue lapis base held abefore he handed over the money. Jackson agreed,
solid gold representation of the goddess Nike, thestepping into Buggy's car promising to lead him to the
ancient Greek patron of victory.trophy.
In January of 1966 the Jules Rimet trophy made itsSomewhere along the way "Jackson" realized that
way to London, so it could be displayed prior to thethey were being followed and became nervous. He
World Cup, scheduled to take place in England laterinstructed Buggy to stop at the next traffic light so that
that year. The trophy was placed under the care ofhe could go and retrieve the trophy from its hiding
the English Football Association, who kept it at theirplace. After he exited the car, he fled. Buggy pursued
headquarters in Lancaster Gate, showing it publicly onlyhim and eventually found him hiding in a private garden.
on a few, well organized occasions.At the police station he was identified as Edward
In February however the Stanley Gibbons StampBetchley, a local car dealer and petty thief. He was
Company requested permission from the FA tocharged with the theft and the subsequent extortion
"borrow" the trophy, to be used as the centralattempt but the Jules Rimet trophy was still missing.
attraction for their Stampex exhibition the followingOn March 27th a local man, David Corbett and his dog
month. The company promised that it would be wellPickles were walking in the Beulah Hill area of South
guarded and it was covered by a $30,000 insuranceLondon, as was their custom. The dog discovered a
policy, even though it was only valued at $3,000.package, wrapped crudely in newspaper. Corbett
In March the exhibition opened in the Central Hall inopened it and recognized its contents immediately. He
Westminster. Two guards were employed to standturned the Jules Rimet World Cup trophy into the local
near the trophy day and night, joined by twoGypsy Hill police station immediately. Your browser
plainclothes policeman during the day. But still, it wasmay not support display of this image.
later admitted that none had their eyes on the prizedAlthough initially under suspicion, Corbett had an iron
cup at every moment.clad alibi for the time of the theft and after FA officials
On Sunday 20th March the security guards makingpositively identified the trophy as genuine, the news of
their noon inspection discovered that the cabinet thatits recovery was released and Pickles found himself
held the Jules Rimet trophy had been pried open andhailed a national hero.
the prize was gone.Corbett received a $12,000 reward and Pickles even
Scotland Yard took over the investigation immediatelywent on to have brief career in movies. In the summer
but early leads fell flat. Then on Monday March 21st,of 1966 England won the World Cup, so the Jules
the chairman of the FA, Joe Mears, received anRimet trophy remained, hidden away, in England for
anonymous phone call at his office. The caller statedanother year. A replica was created immediately after
that Mears could expect delivery of a package,the recovery of the original to be displayed for public
addressed to him, to Chelsea football club the nextpurposes.
day.In 1970, per the man himself's instructions 40 years
But the package actually arrived at Mears' home. Itearlier, when Brazil triumphed in the competition he
contained the removable lining from the Jules Rimetconceived for the third time they were awarded the
trophy and a note demanding fifteen thousand poundsJules Rimet trophy to keep. A brand new trophy was
in small bills. The note further instructed the FA to placecreated to be awarded to future victors. Your
a coded advertisement in the personals column of Thebrowser may not support display of this image.
Evening News. If they followed subsequent demands,In 1983 the Jules Rimet cup was stolen once more,
the note continued, they would have the trophy backand has never been found. Investigators believe it was
by Friday.melted down for its gold value immediately, and Pickles
The events of the following days resemble somethingthe dog was no longer around to help them look for it.