THE memory of Wilf Mannion, one of England's greatest footballers, will be honoured with a statue in his home town.

Plans for the memorial outside Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium were announced by the football club yesterday.

Club officials revealed that they hope to erect a permanent memorial by the beginning of next season.

Yesterday, The Northern Echo launched an appeal for a fitting tribute to the footballer, who was dubbed the Golden Boy in his heyday before and after the Second World War.

Boro chairman Steve Gibson said they would commission a memorial for arguably the club's greatest ever player.

He said: "We are committed to erecting a statue to Wilf. We will target the start of next season to unveil a memorial to him at the front of the BT Cellnet Riverside Stadium."

A spokesman for the football club stressed that all of the costs of the statue were already covered and public subscriptions were not required.

However, The Northern Echo is in discussion with the club about how readers may be able to become involved in other ways of commemorating the former England international.

Wilf, who died earlier this month, aged 81, was still held in great affection by fans 40 years after he quit the game.

His family said they were delighted that he will be commemorated in a statue. His son, Wilf, said: "It will be a marvellous tribute to my dad.

"I don't know whether he'd be pleased - he might have been embarrassed, but we're delighted with the idea."

His lifelong friend, Albert Lanny, 76, echoed these thoughts. He said: "It's good the club has decided so quickly to honour him like this.

"I honestly don't think he would have wanted anything like this. Having said that, it's a pity he won't be around to see it, in a way," he said.

The club are not yet releasing any details about the statue. However, an announcement is due to be made in the coming months, once detailed plans have been finalised.