Shearer’s home again in pride of place at SJP
ALAN Shearer’s statue is finally on the land of St James’ Park after six years just outside of the stadium.
The sculpture was craned into position at the bottom of the stairs of the Gallowgate corner in front of several dozen fans.
The bronze is placed adjacent to the Sir Bobby Robson statue, and for Tom Maley, the man who created both, Shearer has finally come home. Maley kept a close eye as the workman lifted the statue on the plinth before he took on the delicate job of drilling one of the boots from the statue to the wall.
Scaffolding then went up in preparation for the cement to be poured in to secure the statue for years to come. Speaking to The Chronicle, Maley said: “It’s very satisfying, and it’s been quite the operation but it’s a lovely feeling to see him where he should have been in the first place.
“I’m just looking at the shot now for the first time with Bobby behind him and it’s a really nice image to see – so it’s job done. In the first instance, this is where I would have chosen to put him. The owners were pushing against an open door when they suggested putting him here – it’s a great location, the best there is.”
If all goes to plan the scaffolding will be removed from around the Shearer statue today. The fans who had gathered to see the statue moved up were applauding the move and many see it as another win for the club owners Amanda Staveley, Jamie Reuben and the Saudi Public Investment Fund.
The owners, having renamed NINE bar back to Shearer’s, moved quickly to submit an application to the council to have Shearer’s statue moved. Following approval, they wasted no time in moving the statue on to stadium land.
Former owner Mike Ashley had refused to allow the statue to be within the boundary of the ground and it was instead placed on Barrack Road just outside the stadium.