The newspaper of Brian Clough’s home town is campaigning for a statue to be built as a permanent memorial to the footballing hero.

Supporters and former stars launched the campaign in Middlesbrough for “Old Big ‘Ead” to be honoured there.

Some have suggested making his former home in Valley Road, Grove Hill, a historic site – while others want a statue of the former Boro striker erected at the Riverside Stadium, home to Middlesbrough FC.

Cloughie died on Monday, aged 69.

Gazette editor Steve Dyson said: “It was not so much sporting greatness that turned him into a household name, loved as much by grannies as husbands and sons. It was his charisma, his self-belief and his sparkling humour.

“He deserves to be remembered with a statue in Middlesbrough.

“But not simply for something he once was – a brilliant Boro player – but also for something he always was, a Teesside lad through and through who never forgot his roots.”

Support for a statue has already been voiced by Clough’s strike partner at Middlesbrough FC, Alan Peacock, as well as local councillors, Middlesbrough MP and Boro fan Sir Stuart Bell, and many ordinary fans.

Rob Nichols, editor of the Fly Me To The Moon on-line fanzine, along with thousands of other fans throughout the country, backed a campaign to have their beloved Cloughie knighted – an honour which never came his way.

He said: “It’s too late for that now. A physical memorial to remember him by would be more appropriate now.”

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