Home town gains Emlyn sculpture

Emlyn Hughes was named Footballer of the Year in 1977

A statue of former England and Liverpool football captain Emlyn Hughes has been unveiled in his birthplace of Barrow, Cumbria.

The defender, who became a television personality after retirement, died in 2004 from brain cancer, aged 57.

FA chief executive Brian Barwick dedicated the bronze sculpture, a pose of Hughes in mid-kick.

It is sited at a new office development on Abbey Road, which has been named Emlyn Hughes House.

The former television Question of Sport captain, who was awarded an OBE in 1980, played 650 games for Liverpool, won 62 England caps and captained his country 23 times.

He was named Footballer of the Year in 1977 and also played for Blackpool, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Hull, Mansfield and Swansea, before a 20-month spell as manager of Rotherham United.

After his playing career he lived in Sheffield.

The statue has been funded by the Northwest Regional Development Agency.