In 1947 Huddersfield signed brilliant Scotland rugby union international from Hawick. His name was Dave Valentine.

Dave was a key member of a very successful Huddersfield team. In he helped Huddersfield to win the Yorkshire cup and the Challenge Cup.

Dave was selected to captain Great Britain. In 1954 he captained Great Britain in the first ever Rugby League World Cup tournament, which was staged in France.

Great Britain won the 1954 Rugby League World Cup! Dave was the first captain to lift the Rugby League World Cup trophy.

During the 1970 tournament, reigning champions, Australia, put the trophy on display in the Midland Hotel, Bradford. The trophy was stolen six days before the final. It was missing for 20 years. In 1990, father-of-four Stephen Uttley found the trophy amongst rubbish dumped on a tip near Bingley.

This is the story of how another World Cup was stolen and found again.

The Boys of Summer 1966 In 1966 the England football team won the World Cup!In 1966 the England football team won the World Cup!

England 4 West Germany 2

The Jules Rimet Trophy

Jules Rimet organised the first ever football World Cup in 1930

On Sunday 20 March 1966 the World Cup was on show at a stamp exhibition in London. But …

… guards failed to spot someone taking the £30,000 trophy from a cabinet. Someone stole the World Cup!

The chairman of Chelsea received a ransom note and tipped off the Police. A man called Edward Bletchley was arrested and convicted of the theft. But the Cup was still missing!

Meet Pickles!

Pickles was out for a walk with his owner David Corbett. On returning to their home Pickles started rummaging under the hedge. He pulled out something wrapped in newspaper…

… it was the Jules Rimet trophy!

Pickles became famous!

His owner received a £6,000 reward … … worth about … £200,000 today. A banquet was held for Pickles and he was allowed to lick all the plates clean.

1970 Brazil won the World Cup for the third time and so kept the trophy

In 1983 someone stole the World Cup in Brazil and it was never seen again!

Big G says – “People who steal things – however small, lose the friendship, trust and respect of others. Your good name is worth more than any possessions. Remember that the best things in life…Remember that the best things in life… …aren’t things!”…aren’t things!”