World Cup World Cup statue unveiled in ex-leader's honour

Press Release Date: 4 January 2011

Tameside’s place in football history was enshrined on Wednesday 22 December 2010, when the final item in a series of street art and sculptures commissioned by the late Cllr Roy Oldham was unveiled.

The borough is unique as the birthplace of three holders of World Cup winner’s medals and the piece depicts each of the players: Sir Geoff Hurst MBE and Jimmy Armfield CBE, who were with England in 1966, and Simone Perrotta who was born in Ashton but played for Italy in 2006.

John Oldham, Cllr Oldham’s son, performed the unveiling ceremony. The statue is sited at the Richmond Street sports complex, which is being renamed the Roy Oldham Sports Village as a further tribute to the ex-leader of the council.

Cllr Kieran Quinn, executive leader of Tameside Council, said: “Given Roy Oldham’s interest in sport, and in the statue programme, it seems only right that the World Cup sculpture should be unveiled as a memorial to him.

“He commissioned it early last year and it is the final piece in his project. I am very happy that Roy’s son, John, will be with us to perform the unveiling.”

• Sir Geoff Hurst MBE was born in Ashton in 1942 and spent his early years in Denton. He made three appearances for England in the 1966 World Cup tournament and is the only man to score a hat-trick in the final.
• Jimmy Armfield CBE was born in Denton in 1935 and was captain of England before Bobby Moore. Although he did not play in any of the games in 1966 he qualified for a medal as a member of the 22-strong squad.
• Simone Perrotta was born in Ashton in 1977. He plays for AS Roma and was in the Italy team which beat France in the 2006 World Cup final.

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