The statue of legendary Coventry City manager Jimmy Hill will become the 50th statue of a footballing personality to be erected in Britain when it is unveiled later this year.
It is highly appropriate that the 50th statue of a football personality will be that of Jimmy Hill as it will be unveiled fifty years after Mr Hill took over as manager of Coventry City.
Dr Chris Stride, of Sheffield University, revealed the statistic in a paper he has written about the trend for football clubs to honour their illustrious personalities and to highlight their history.
Dr Stride said, “It’s a relatively new phenomenon. There was one in the mid-1950s, but nothing until the late 80s to the mid-90s when it really took off."
“Jimmy Hill will be the 50th one in situ in Great Britain.”
The statue is currently being finished in the Devon studio of sculptor Nicholas Dimbleby. It is scheduled to be unveiled outside the Ricoh in July.
Lloyds Pharmacy, sponsors of a stand at The Ricoh Arena have made a generous donation toward the £150,000 appeal.
Picture copyright of Covsupport News Service. Credit CNS/KM