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Who stole the 1966 World Cup? Son claims to have solved the mystery

The son of one of those said to be involved in the theft claims the pair did it “for the thrill”.

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A London gangster and his brother were behind the notorious unsolved theft of the World Cup trophy just months before the 1966 tournament in England, it has been claimed.

Sidney Cugullere, with the help of his brother Reg, stole the Jules Rimet trophy while it was on public exhibition at the Methodist Central Hall in Westminster, Reg’s son Gary said.

A police officer stands next to the display case in the Central Hall, Westminster, from which the World Cup was stolen (PA)
A police officer stands next to the display case in the Central Hall, Westminster, from which the World Cup was stolen (PA)

Gary told the Daily Mirror that his uncle Sidney had stolen the trophy “for the thrill” and not for financial gain – and that Reg had also been in the hall at the time of the theft but had not seen Sidney take the cup.

He added: “On the street after coming out of the doors, Sid lifted his jacket and said, ”Ere you are, Reg, look at this’. He opened one side of his jacket and the World Cup was there.”

The Jules Rimet World Cup (David Davies/PA)
The Jules Rimet World Cup (David Davies/PA)

“My dad was freaking out and he knew there was no way they could sell the cup. They realised they had to give it back,” he added.

The trophy was snatched on March 20 1966. Three days later a package containing the top of the trophy and a typed ransom note demanding £15,000 arrived at Chelsea Football Club, sparking a full-scale police operation.

Detective Inspector Leonard Buggy was called in to meet a go-between called Edward Betchley, later jailed for his part in the theft.

Police officers with the recovered World Cup trophy (PA)
Police officers with the recovered World Cup trophy (PA)

The pair drove off to collect the cup from its hiding place, but Betchley jumped out and fled having realised the car was being shadowed by police and the handover never took place.

He was arrested minutes later but refused to reveal the whereabouts of the cup.

According to the Daily Mirror, Sidney died in 2005 without ever being caught, while Reg died in 2012.

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