Sunderland fans bid to have a statue of Charlie Hurley created for his 80th birthday please log in to view this image Sunderland could be getting a new statue honouring it's own King Charlie, if the plans of a group of Sunderland fans come true. City businessman Martin O’Neill and a group of friends will be canvassing fellow supporters this weekend about the possibility of creating a statue of the Black Cats’ ‘Player of the Century.’ Martin believes that a statue of the man dubbed ‘the best centre-half that the world has ever seen’ would be a fitting tribute as he celebrates his landmark birthday in October (4th). “Charlie Hurley turns 80 this year,” he said. “Virtually every other city in the country has a statue to one of it's heroes – there’s a statue of Phil Lynott outside his favourite bar in Dublin, and The Land of Darkness has the Jackie Milburn statue, so why not have one of Charlie in Sunderland ?” At the moment the group includes a handful of people, but Martin explained that the aim was to gauge how much interest there was before pressing ahead with the plan. Quote from Charlie . . . . "It doesn’t get much better than that as a footballer. Sunderland, to me, was immense." “There’s me, a couple of lads that I go to the games with, and I spoke to a few people after the Man. City match last Tuesday night,” Martin said. “We are planning to hold an informal meeting after the match against Manchester United on Saturday, at St. Mary’s Church Hall in Bridge Street. It’ll be no more than ten minutes - it's just a chance for people to leave their phone numbers and email addresses if they like the idea and want to get involved." “If there is sufficient interest after the game we will speak to various supporters groups, then we can approach the club. If enough people are interested, fund-raising will begin in earnest." “I have been told that £75,000 to £80,000 would be enough,” said Martin. A Love Supreme editor, Martyn McFadden, said: “Why not have a statue of Charlie Hurley? He was a great player for Sunderland . . . . a great servant of the club. I have been lucky enough to meet him a few times and interview him – he is probably the biggest man that I have ever interviewed, in terms of both stature and personality. He is a lovely guy and it would be a fitting tribute.” Sunderland Supporters’ Association chairman, George Forster, said that he could not think of any player who deserved a statue more, adding: “We have had some wonderful players, and Charlie is my number one hero.” The man himself is 'over the moon' about the possibility of being immortalised in the city where he played for 12 years. “I would love it,” said Charlie, who played for SAFC between 1957 and 1969, “as long as they make me look good. It doesn’t get much better than that as a footballer. Sunderland, to me, was immense . . . . it was a big chunk of my life, and I loved the place.” Charlie still has links with the club, and as a gesture, I think that this is long overdue . . . . I am definately in favour of it p.s. Len Ashurst, behind Charlie in the fotie, was (and probably still is) a very strange looking chap, wasn't he p.p.s. some quotes may have been altered, slightly, for accuracy
Terry, I think that photo was taken at an FA Cup tie against Everton at Roker in the early sixties (63/64). The ladies in the fancy dress were actually there with baskets of Toffees and they threw hand fulls into the crowd prior to kick off. (As you will know the nickname of Everton was/is the Toffees). I was at that match and stood next to the players tunnel to the left on that picture. Out of interest we won that game 3-0.
Well you learn something every day on here. That must be why half of the crowd are stood with their mouths open, waiting to catch a treat off the toffeechuckess's.
Yes , yes , yes to the statue. By the way Cumbrian, I was at that Everton game as well and I haven't looked at any records yet but I'm 99% sure the score was 3-1 .
Remember him signing and loved the man, a true legend and no one deserves it more, I have also had the pleasure of meeting him and he is a real gentleman. Strangely I thought he would be taller than he was as on the field he was a giant in every sense of the word. I have thought for some time that we should have his statue outside the stadium, I think there is already one in Ireland celebrating his international career, we must support this venture wholeheartedly.
I'll accept that, I know we were 3-0 ahead at half time but couldn't remember if Everton got one back or not.
75-80k for a statue! Sad reality is that it's more than he ever cost or was valued at as a player!!!! Really hope t his gets done! I never saw him but my dad raves about him. True legend
I remember my Granda always telling me when he first signed, we got smashed 7-0 and 6-0 in his first two games in the team. He scored an own goal and was responsible for about 3 more. He thought we had signed a donkey. He went on to love him though and my Nana still says 'you take your cap off for King Charlie'
That sounds a bit like Jan Kirchoff's debut, when some thought similarly about him Let's dream for a minute (like the fools that we are)
Ah you youngsters. Crowd with mouth open was the HUGE roar that greeted the team when it ran out five minutes before the kick off. Forget modern day TV intrusion, analyst, prediction bollocks being at the ground was the thing and that run out roar was a release of what had built up for a week before the game. Mind I do like Everton toffee.
