Bacup Borough boss statue is campaign's goal (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Bacup Borough boss statue is campaign's goal

6:41pm Monday 1st February 2010 in

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A NON league football club could follow in the footsteps of Premiership giants Manchester United by erecting a statue in honour of their manager.

Campaigners want to immortalise Bacup FC boss Brent Peters with his own statue - just like Sir Matt Busby at Old Trafford and Sir Bobby Moore outside Wembley stadium.

Fans of the Vodkat league Premier Division club have set up a page on social networking site Facebook dedicated to their "living legend" manager.

Andy Atkin, one of the founders, said: “There are so many people who appreciate what Brent has done for the club including former players Danny Hartley and Chris Greenwood, who both hold Brent in high regard.

“We were watching the Manchester United game on Sunday and thought it would be a great idea to get a statue of Brent up.

"So I invited people online to get behind it and in less than a day there were 70 members.

“What we would really like is for the local construction company Boys to fund the statue, because Boys are the current sponsor of the stands.

“It would be a bit of fun as well, but we are all behind it and some of the lads here idolise Brent. It would really make them happy.”

Bacup boss Peters said: “It is humbling to see the campaign but it might also be someone having a laugh.

“They do say no publicity is bad publicity unless they spell your name wrong of course!

“I was born and bred in Rossendale and all I’m trying to do is put Bacup on the map through developing this football club.

"In my line of work I can get praised if people agree with my efforts or knocked down if things do not go as people want.

“If the statue was erected, it could also give the critics something to thrown things at."

Brent has recently unveiled plans for a third generation football pitch to host an array of community facilities as well as a permanent memorial to muderered goth Sophie Lancaster.

A planning application for any statue would have to be sent to the council’s development control committee before any decision could be made.