The Dog Who Found the Stolen World Cup

In March 1966, England was four months away from hosting the biggest sporting event in its history. Then the trophy vanished.

The Theft That Shocked a Nation

On March 20, 1966, the Jules Rimet Trophy was stolen from a public exhibition at Westminster Central Hall in London. A ransom note arrived at the Football Association demanding £15,000. Police arrested a middleman - Edward Betchley - but he refused to reveal where the trophy was hidden. England had less than four months before the tournament began, and the cup was gone.

The Hedge on Beulah Hill

One week later, on March 27, David Corbett took his black-and-white collie mongrel Pickles for a walk near their home on Beulah Hill in south London. Pickles stopped at a hedge and began scratching at a newspaper-wrapped bundle. Corbett unwrapped it. There, stamped around the base, were the names of every previous winner - Uruguay, Italy, Brazil. He was holding the Jules Rimet Trophy.

A Dog Becomes a National Hero

Corbett received a £6,000 reward - enough to buy a house in Surrey, which he did. Pickles was named Dog of the Year by Spillers pet food, awarded a silver medal by the National Canine Defence League, and received fan mail from across the country. He also landed a film role alongside Eric Sykes and June Whitfield in the 1966 comedy The Spy with a Cold Nose.

The Victory Banquet

When England beat West Germany 4-2 in the final on July 30, 1966, Pickles was invited to the winners' celebration banquet. Bobby Moore - holding the very trophy Pickles had found - lifted the dog above his head in front of thousands of fans on the balcony. Pickles enjoyed a full dinner at the table.

A Brief Legacy

Pickles died in 1967 when his lead caught on a tree branch while chasing a cat near the family's home in Surrey. His collar is now on display at the National Football Museum in Manchester - a small memorial to the mongrel who saved England's World Cup.