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Date announced to unveil Jimmy statue
CAMPAIGNERS behind the new statue of Seasiders legend Jimmy Armfield to be placed outside Bloomfield Road have announced the official unveiling date.
The life-size effigy will be revealed on May 1 next year – forty years to the day of his final game for Blackpool FC.
Armfield called time on his playing career against Manchester United in a 1-1 draw at the stadium on Saturday May 1 1971. Forty years on, a bronze sculpture will be unveiled to celebrate and recognise his achievements.
Commissioned by the Blackpool Supporters Association, the statue will cost 75,000 and is being created by international sculptor Les Johnson, whose previous work includes the Brian Clough statue in Nottingham city centre and a tribute to war hero Sir Keith Park.
So far, more than 30,000 has been raised.
A prestigious "tangerine tie" dinner will be held after the unveiling, where some of the biggest names in football will gather to pay tribute to the player.
Tickets for this event will go on sale towards the end of September.
Campaign chairman Glenn Bowley said: "Work has been going extremely well and the formal planning application will be with the council next week.
"Jimmy will be visiting Les Johnson's workshop in the next week to make his final inspection before the wax maquette is turned into a life size statue. The support of the Blackpool fans has been tremendous and I know Jimmy has been overwhelmed by the response.
"To have the opportunity to unveil the work during Blackpool's debut Premier League season is something that he will be very proud of."
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Weather for Blackpool
Thursday 24 May 2012
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Temperature: 14 C to 20 C
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