A major project was launched in Sunderland today aiming to provide a
lasting memorial to 1973 FA Cup-winning manager Bob Stokoe.
The city was saddened by Bob’s death at the age of 73 on February 1st
this year and support has gathered momentum across Wearside for the
creation of a statue in his memory.
A steering group, made up of representatives from high-profile
organisations across the city, was recently established to investigate
the cost and feasibility of commissioning a Statue for Stokoe.
And today marks the launch of the Statue for Stokoe Fund, which aims to
raise £73,000 for a special memorial to a great man.
The statue, the exact design of which has yet to be decided, will be
placed at the Stadium of Light to provide a focus for football fans in
Sunderland and beyond to remember Mr Stokoe and his team’s achievements.
The fund will be run by a new company made up of representatives of
Sunderland AFC, Sunderland Supporters’ Association, City of Sunderland
Council, Sunderland Former Players’ Association, fans magazine TWR,
print and design company Rufus and the Sunderland Echo.
The statue project has the backing of Mr Stokoe’s family and members of
the team that was guided by him to glory with the 1-0 victory over
favourites Leeds United in the 1973 FA Cup final.
George Forster, chairman of the Sunderland AFC Supporters’ Association,
which has branches across the world, said Mr Stokoe was a legend in the
truest sense of the world and challenged Black Cats fans to rise to the
challenge of creating a statue in his name.
Mr Forster said: “Bob Stokoe gave Sunderland the biggest lift I have
ever known. We have had promotions before and relegations, but this was
something else, it was tremendous.
“Everyone was proud to be a Sunderland supporter. That was because of
what Bob achieved as a manager. I am sure Sunderland fans can come together to raise this money for Bob’s statue.”
Sunderland AFC vice-chairman John Fickling helped organise the open-top
bus for the team’s 1973 victory parade and said the club would give the
statue appeal its wholehearted support.
“The 1973 FA Cup win is one of the club’s greatest achievements and it
is only right that Bob Stokoe’s triumph is recognised with a permanent
tribute in the form of a statue at the Stadium of Light,” said Mr
Fickling.
“The club is backing the Statue for Stokoe Fund and will be doing all it
can to help raise the necessary funds, and I am sure that the majority
of fans will make a contribution too.”
Tom Lynn, editor of TWR, said: “The Wearside Roar (TWR) is delighted to
support and promote the Statue for Stokoe appeal.
“Bob Stokoe helped give enormous pleasure to tens of thousands of
Sunderland supporters and in the space of four years guided SAFC to a
glorious FA Cup win and promotion to the top flight. A statue would be a fitting long-term memorial and ‘thank-you’ to a great man.”
Ian Wright, managing director of Seaham-based print and design company
Rufus, added: “Bob Stokoe and his team pulled off one of the biggest FA
Cup upsets of all time and in doing so gave the people of Sunderland a
moment of national pride, which can never be taken away from them.
“This achievement deserves a focal point, and what better way to
commemorate it than with a statue of the man who made it all possible?”
Councillor Bob Symonds, leader of City of Sunderland Council, said: “The City of Sunderland are delighted to support this campaign to erect
a statue in memory of Bob Stokoe. His success in 1973 will always be
remembered as one of the city’s greatest achievements”
And Sunderland Echo editor Rob Lawson said: “Bob Stokoe may be gone, but
he will never be forgotten by the people of Sunderland and football fans
across the world. The Sunderland Echo is pleased to support the Statue for Stokoe Fund and looks forward to helping this project to reach its target.
“The creation of a Statue for Stokoe would be a fitting tribute and
lasting memorial so that generations of fans can continue to relive the
joy and glory, not only of that great FA Cup triumph, but of the way Bob
Stokoe led Sunderland back to the top flight of English football.”
Donations to the Statue for Stokoe Fund can currently be made by cheque
or credit/debit card.
– Cheques made payable to the Statue for Stokoe Fund should be sent to:
BNL Accountants, 32 Brenkley Way, Blezzard Business Park, Seaton Burn,
Newcastle upon Tyne, NE13 6DS.
– Telephone donations using a credit or debit card can be made by calling
08707 01 1973. Lines are open 9am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday.
A website, www.statueforstokoe.com, will be kept up to date with the appeal’s progress and people wishing to make online donations can do so via the site.
At the request of Bob Stokoe’s family, any surplus funds will be donated
to charities supporting research into Alzheimers Disease.
