Bristol City fans raising cash for Atyeo statue
Bristol City chairman Steve Lansdown has given his backing to plans by the club's Supporters' Trust to build a statue of legendary centre-forward John Atyeo at their new stadium.
The Trust have set a target of £100,000 to build a statue to the player who is the club's record goalscorer. They took the decision after majority of fans in a survey of 3,000 picked Atyeo, who died in 1993, as the clear choice for any such monument.
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Bristol City legend John Ayteo
Atyeo already has a stand named after him at Ashton Gate, and now the fans want to go one step further, with the monument pencilled in for the club's planned new stadium.
Lansdown told the Post: "The Supporters' Trust survey showed there is a demand from supporters to have a statue at the new stadium, and John Atyeo is the clear favourite with fans for that.
"He is arguably the most famous player in the club's history and the Trust's decision to raise funds for a statue in memory of him comes with the full blessing of the club.
"With the new stadium being a capital project, plus the ongoing funding of the team, we couldn't envisage building in costs of a statue on top, so I'm delighted the Trust and our supporters are willing to take on the fundraising for this project."
Trust chairman Stuart Rogers said: "As Bristol City continues to take bold steps to a promising future, it is important that we also keep in touch with the Club's roots."
The Trust has agreed with Lansdown that money raised for the statue will be invested in shares in Bristol City Holdings and that the Club will use the money to commission the statue.
Rogers explained: "The size of the sculpture will depend on the amount of money raised. We're setting ourselves the target of raising £100,000 by summer 2011. The Trust already has £15,000 earmarked for the statue, and we call on all City fans to contribute."
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by steve, clevedon
Monday, November 17 2008, 5:31PM
“I don't think any stands have been allocated names in the proposed New Mem' so Geoff may yet grace one of them.The statue idea is great for both Bristol teams as Leeds have Billy Bremner outside Elland Road just to name one example. I totally agree with Mendipman in that it would be wonderful to have players these days that act as complete gentlemen on the pitch,there is too much back chat and playacting that leads to alot of yellow cards for both sets of players!!”
by Paul Stone, Bristol
Monday, November 17 2008, 5:24PM
“John [Swineford]
Regarding a statue or stand named after any ex-Rovers player, would only come into the picture if and ever when, a new stadium [re-build] happens - it is a grat idea for both clubs to honour our ex-sports stars, you can have bars and function rooms named after players, so that people like Harold Jarman will remain in our hearts and memory.”
by MendipMan, Wurzel Country
Monday, November 17 2008, 2:04PM
“Not only was John Atyeo a wonderful footballer (what would he be worth in today's inflated markets?) but he was also a gentleman. In his long and illustrious career he was never booked, let alone sent off, and when asked why referees always said he was a pleasure to officiate he replied, "I never give them any trouble because I respect them." Would that modern players followed suit. Refs then did make mistakes of course but incidents were not shown in endless slow motion from every angle. Five goals in six matches would ensure a modern striker a long run in the current England team but John was dropped for the 'crime' of being a part-time professional, and all that after his last minute equaliser in Dublin ensured England's passage into the 1958 World Cup finals in Sweden (where the great Pele first burst onto the scene). I had the great privilege and immense pleasure of witnessing much of John's career and can say he is head and shoulders the finest City player of my lifetime. Geoff Bradford was nearly as good across at Rovers, and he too was an absolute gentleman. It is an amazing fact that arguably Bristol's best ever footballers were playing contemporaries. Sadly, these two greats of Bristol football both died far too early. I support wholeheartedly a statue for John and some recognition for Geoff in the Rovers' camp as well.”
by Horfield Bloke, Horfield
Monday, November 17 2008, 1:55PM
“A statue of John Atyeo would score as many goals per season as City's current centre forward!!”
by beverley, yate
Monday, November 17 2008, 1:07PM
“a statue is a great idea after all john atyeo is an absolute bristol city legend”