BOBBY Robson - football hero and the subject of an Evening Star knighthood campaign - will soon be gracing Ipswich with his presence on a permanent basis when he becomes immortalised in bronze.

BOBBY Robson - football hero and the subject of an Evening Star knighthood campaign - will soon be gracing Ipswich with his presence on a permanent basis when he becomes immortalised in bronze.

Measuring and sculpting are now finished and the foundry is at the ready to fire up the life size statue of the former Blues manager.

Bobby has had a major input in creating the lasting tribute, which is due to be unveiled at the beginning of July.

It is believed that this could be the first statue, certainly within the football world, that has ever been done of a living person.

The statue will stand opposite the Centre Spot restaurant in Portman Road.

Sculptor Sean Hedges-Quinn, who is the talent behind the Sir Alf Ramsey statue was commissioned to immortalise Bobby.

Sean, known to most people as Coach, has spent around 400 hours of his spare time on it, along with another sculptor called Stan Mitchell.

He said: "We have a lot of material to get through, such as videos and photographs as well as Bobby's personal likes.

Because Bobby has been heavily involved with the work, Sean has met up with him several times.

He said the Newcastle manager was extremely pleased with the statue.

"To start with he was quite apprehensive about seeing it because if it was not quite right he would have been disappointed.

"But he said it was brilliant and that his wife would love it, " Sean said.

And by meeting up with Bobby, Sean has managed to get an inside view of the football world and has found out that he has every confidence in his former teams chances in the Premiership.

Sean said: "Bobby believes that Ipswich won't go down for four reasons - Middlesborough, Derby, Leicester and Bolton."

Sean was commissioned to complete the £50,000 project by the Ipswich Town Supporters Club after his success with Sir Alf Ramsey, his first ever statue.

He has worked as a special effects artist in several films and TV including the new Nicole Kidman film The Others, but Sir Alf and Bobby Robson are the only statues he has done.

It was a huge challenge but Sean described the feeling of completing each statue as "absolutely brilliant."

Phil Housely, chairman of the Ipswich Town Supporters Club said he had not yet seen the statue but was looking forward to his first glimpse.

He said: "It is wonderful that it is going to be unveiled in the summer and in time for the start of next season."

The Evening Star has followed the making of the statue through different stages.

Brand manager Austen Dack said: "The Evening Star was one of the sponsors of Sir Alf and will be pleased to be involved in the unveiling of Sir Bobby."

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