Colin Melbourne

It was created to support the campaign to save Shelton Bar steelworks from closure, which eventually failed.

The bronze statue, in Parliament Row in the centre of Hanley, was the result of a chance meeting between Melbourne and the footballer.

Stanley Matthews chose the pose for the statue, and specified that it would show the kit he wore for Stoke City F.C.

It was commissioned by Burslem Urban District Council, and unveiled in 1991 by Stuart Lyons, chairman of Royal Doulton.

[8] The bronze statue of Reginald Mitchell, designer of the Spitfire aircraft, stands in Broad Street, Hanley.