Councillors have given their backing to install a permanent memorial to the late Jack Charlton in his Northumberland home town of Ashington.
Labor councilor Liam Lavery, who has already contacted sculptor Tom Maley, the man in charge of creating the statues of Sir Bobby Robson and Alan Shearer at St James’ Park, put forward proposals for the statue.
Then, Ashington Town Council unanimously passed the idea and agreed to work with the campaign.
The family will be consulted regarding the statue’s location, which is yet to be decided. But one area being considered is the favorite park of Charlton and playing fields for boyhood, in Ashington’s Hirst area.
Although it is not yet decided which sculptor will be used, Lavery says he has already received thousands of pounds worth of donations from the public, as well as funding pledged by local businesses.
It is estimated it could cost anything in the region of £10,000 to £100,000 to construct, depending on the scale of the monument.
Charlton, who died after battling a long-term illness last month, was part of the England team that won the World Cup in 1966. He also managed the national team of the Republic of Ireland, and made 629 appearances between 1950 and 1973 for Leeds United.
