A statue depicting sporting legend Brian Clough at the start of his football career has been unveiled in his home town.
The 7ft-tall bronze figure, sculpted by Vivien Mallock, stands in Albert Park in Middlesbrough.
It shows a 24-year-old Clough with his boots slung over his shoulder striding towards Ayresome Park, Middlesbrough's former ground, on his way to training.
The former player and manager died of cancer in September 2004, aged 69.
He began his playing career at Middlesbrough, lived in nearby Valley Road and made his way to training via Albert Park.
He also played for neighbouring Sunderland, and went on to score 251 goals in 274 games for the two North East clubs before his career was cut short by injury in the early 1960s.
"There was a deep reservoir of feeling for Cloughie from the people in this town and they don't want him to be forgotten"
The £65,000 statue, unveiled by his widow Barbara and children Nigel, Simon and Elizabeth, was funded by a combination of public donations and by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Sculptor Vivien Mallock said the statue had been well received.
She said: "A lady walked past me, she didn't know who I was, and she said 'Well I'm not sure about the back but the front's lovely'.
"Other people have come up to me and said their dads knew Brian Clough and the statue looks just like him."
Youngest manager
Middlesbrough councillor John McPartland, said: "It's only right that his home town is recognising his contribution by placing a lasting tribute to the man in such an appropriate location.
"There was a deep reservoir of feeling for Cloughie from the people in this town and they don't want him to be forgotten."
After being injured, Clough carved out a career as a manager and went on to become one of the game's most colourful characters.
He was appointed Hartlepool boss at 30, then the youngest manager in the league.
Later he led Derby County and Nottingham Forest to league championships and won two European Cups with the Nottingham club in 1979 and 1980.
He was awarded an OBE in 1991.
^ Back to top | BBC Sport Home | BBC Homepage | Contact us | Help | ©
~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~38~RS~)