FANS of football's golden boy are about to kick off a new £1m sports development as a tribute to their hero.

Catherine Bain, the daughter of Boro legend Wilf Mannion, will help launch a six-month building programme on Monday to create an extensive sports development on the site where Wilf began his career.

The sport centre will be built on a former football ground at Normanby Road, Middlesbrough, and is the flagship scheme of the South Bank Regeneration Budget.

Mrs Bain said: "I think it's wonderful and I am going to feel very emotional, especially with it being one of the first places where dad played."

The sport, health and community centre will be called Golden Boy Green and its day-to-day running will be the responsibly of a committee of local people.

Former Boro footballer George Hardwick will also be at Monday's launch of the project, which will create an outdoor multi-sport pitch, skate park, an amphitheatre, crazy golf green and a range of indoor facilities.