Pickles The Dog That Found The Stolen World Cup

In 1966, on Sunday, March 20th, the World Cup trophy was stolen from an exhibition in central London. The ‘Jules Rimet’ trophy, named after former FIFA president Jules Rimet, with the Greek goddess Nike on it, was stolen when police officers and security were outside the exhibition hall. The next day, the Chairman of England’s Football Association received a ransom note demanding £15,000 for the safe return of the trophy. Police arranged a handover of a suitcase containing fake money. Unfortunately, the man they met, Edward Bletchley, a local thief and used car salesman, didn’t have the cup. The ransom was a hoax – Bletchey just wanted the money.

David Corbett took his dog, Pickles, out for a walk a week after the theft. Pickles sniffed out the trophy, which was wrapped in old newspapers, tied with a string, and hidden under a car in South London. “While we were walking, Pickles went over to the neighbour’s car,” recalls Corbett.

“Pickles showed me to a package, tightly wrapped in newspaper, lying by the front wheel. I took it and ripped some paper off and saw a woman holding a dish over her head, and disks with the words ‘Germany, Uruguay, Brazil’. I knew it was the World Cup!” Pickles received many awards. He was named ‘Dog of the Year’ and a national dog food company awarded him with a year’s supply of food! He grew even more famous when he starred in the 1966 film, ‘The Spy with the Cold Nose.’ Sadly, Pickles passed away within 12 months. His collar is on display in England’s National Football Museum.