I thought a mini series on football’s great trophies would interest all those who love “the beautiful game”. What better way to begin than at the very top, so here we go with THE JULES RIMET TROPHY.
When I was Director of the proposed International Soccer Museum for Galway, I was invited to FIFA Headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland. Its archives director brought me to the trophy cabinet and took out what I understood to be the old and original World Cup, and the then current World Cup.
FIFA granted me permission to use FIFA’s logo and flags. I found the entire occasion extremely enjoyable, and a privilege, and felt honoured that FIFA were impressed and excited by our museum project.
The Jules Rimet Trophy was the original prize for winning the FIFA World Cup. Rimet was president of FIFA. It was he who, in 1929, passed a vote to institute the World Cup competition.
Made of gold-plated sterling silver on a lapis lazuli base, the original trophy was designed by the French sculptor Abel Lafleur.
The base was replaced in 1954 by a taller version — to accommodate more winners’ details. It was 14 inches high, and weighed 8.4 lbs.
The first team to win the cup was Uruguay, in 1930…
In March 1966 the trophy was stolen during a public exhibition in London’s Westminster Central Hall. Seven days later it was found, wrapped in a newspaper, in the hedge of a garden. The finder was a black and white mongrel dog named “Pickles”!
The F.A. had a replica of the trophy secretly made — for use at exhibitions. That replica was subsequently sold to FIFA in 1997. FIFA paid £254, 500 for it. They lent it for display at the English National Football Museum.
When Brazil won the tournament for the third time in 1970, they were allowed to keep the original trophy in perpetuity. But in 1983, it was stolen again! It has never been recovered, and is believed to have been melted down and sold.
