THE National Football Museum in Preston has won the World Cup for a new exhibition which opened on Monday, August 6.

Sir Bobby Charlton was on hand with a host of footballing heroes to receive the legendary trophy on behalf of the museum.

But the trophy is not all it seems. It is a fake, commissioned by football authority bosses after the original was stolen in 1966 -- just before the England football team beat West Germany 4-2 in the final.

The trophy is part of a new exhibition celebrating England's success in the 1966 competition. The collection features the original crossbar hit by Sir Geoff Hurst in the famous match.

Sir Charlton expressed his satisfaction at seeing the trophy take its place in the museum.

He said: "The National Football Museum is the best museum of its kind anywhere I have ever seen. It is the greatest sporting collection this country has ever known."

For more information on the museum phone 908401.