A statue in honor of EPL side West Ham United’s 1966 World Cup "heroes" has been boarded up on the advice of police "who have credible reason to believe it could be damaged when Tottenham Hotspur visit Upton Park" for Wednesday's game, according to Gary Jacob of the LONDON TIMES. The bronze sculpture "depicts a famous victory scene from after England’s 4-2 victory over West Germany and features Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst, Martin Peters and Ray Wilson." The statue, which cost £725,000 to erect and stands where some home fans "congregate on the corner of Green Street and Barking Road, has been damaged three times in recent years." Newham council acted to protect the statue it commissioned with the club in '03 after police "advised of a risk of damage," despite Tottenham supporters being "unlikely to walk past it on their way to Upton Park underground station." A Newham council spokesperson said, "We have boarded around the steps of the Champions sculpture as a preventative measure following information from the Metropolitan Police." There will be a "heavy security presence around Upton Park and extra stewards and police will stand between the home and 3,000 away supporters" (LONDON TIMES, 3/2).