Desmond Tutu and Pele to unveil Banks statue

[FullerMagic]

Radio Stoke say it'll be unveiled on Saturday July 12th, and there'll be a Banks XI v Pele XI game at The Brit.

We're getting all the stars now

[sheikhmomo]

Who can forget Banksy's save from Tutu against Grimsby in 1973.

[Dr Oetcake]

will the Pele XI be sponsored by Viagra? Presumably playing with one up front?

[knowles]

Wow, what a day this proves to be....would be even better if we are a Premiership side

[Pedropotter]

Typical stoke. Wheres Mandela?

like my arse !!

[CraigWally]

sheikhmomo said:

Who can forget Banksy's save from Tutu against Grimsby in 1973.

;D ;D brilliant sheik quite brilliant

[jezzascfc]

Ah, a "Desmond" - beloved of all mediocre university students across the land. Still better than a "Richard"!

[Mr_DaftBurger]

Should be a great match. A return of the working mans ballet?

[knowingeye]

knowles said:

Wow, what a day this proves to be....would be even better if we are a Premiership side

Not "if", but "when".

[lordb]

'Dont mess with my Tutu....'

[FullerMagic]

The game doesn't sound up to much.

James Nesbitt and some bloke from Westlife? Dear oh dear

BREAKING NEWS: PELE AND TUTU TO VISIT BRIT
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SOCCER legend Pele and human rights campaigner Archbishop Desmond Tutu will be the star attractions at the unveiling of the Gordon Banks statue, it was announced today.

And a celebrity football match between a Gordon Banks Xl and a Pele Xl has also been earmarked to accompany the grand unveiling at the Britannia Stadium in July.

"I'm very proud, honoured and flattered that someone should see fit to do this for me," said Banks today.

"Normally they only put statues up for people who are dead. I'm only sorry my mother and father aren't here to see it, but luckily I have the rest of my family.

"It's nice that it will be put here in Stoke-on-Trent where I live. The sculptor has done a fantastic job. He was even asking me which way I tied my boots to get the right detail."

The statue - a life-size depiction of Banks holding aloft the Jules Rimet World Cup at Wembley in 1966 - is the first of three proposed statues scheduled to be followed by recreations of his famous save against Pele in 1970 and a penalty save for Stoke at West Ham in 1972.

The completed statue will be unveiled at the Britannia on Saturday, July 12 and will be followed by the celebrity match to raise funds for charity.

Organisers have invited Archbishop Tutu, the one-time anti-apartheid campaigner, to mark the World Cup Finals being awarded to South Africa in 2010.

The Banks celebration is also a chance, say organisers, to recognise Stoke-on-Trent's contribution to South Africa through Josiah Wedgwood's anti-slavery work and Sir Stanley Matthews's coaching of young footballers in Soweto.

Celebrities pencilled in for the charity game at the Britannia include Westlife's Nicky Byrne, actor James Nesbitt and film director Paul Greengrass, while former goalkeepers Bert Trautmann and Bert Williams have been invited to gala dinners that weekend in Stoke and Manchester.

Don Mullan, chairman of the Gordon Banks Committee, said today: "This will be the first monument in the western world to a goalkeeper and has been created by a genius at work in sculptor Andrew Edwards."

Stoke's chief executive Tony Scholes added: "As a club we have been wowed by what the organisers have done. Let's now do something special on July 12 to put us on the map and make ourselves proud."

[Soi Cowboy]

That was funny MoMo ;D



Paul Greengrass - he did the Bourne films didn't he??

[smigchop]

Celebrities pencilled in for the charity game at the Britannia include Westlife's Nicky Byrne

WTF stoke?

[Dallas Cowboy]

Another one for your Greatest Hits album, sheikh. You are in good form, again.

Yep, Greengrass was the director of the Bourne films. No word on whether he will direct the final one -- Bourne Loser.

[knowles]

It would cheapen the name of Banks if there were to be 'celebs' playing on our hallowed turf.

Would be great if they had a Stoke City XI v some of Pele's mates

Tutu assistant manager ;D

[crowey]

Can't we get "The Fat Vale Fan" + Desmond Tutu - also invite the election loser Robert Mugabe & get everyone to kick all sorts of shit out of him

[pulisjr]

I always thought Greengrass was in Heartbeat???

[wizzardofdribble]

"Sarcasm" wrote Dr Johnson "Is the lowest form of wit" and Guess-What? All the nasty little gay-boys come out of-the-closet to denigrate Sir Desmond Tu-tu, PELE, and Gordon Banks M.B.E just because they can get free bus-passes to Stoke

You disgust me

Stick your passes up your...

[Olgrligm]

He was being sarcastic, wasn't he?

[Menorca Stokie]

Is this an April fool. If it was posted on the 1st I would have thought so. Pele, Desmond Tutu, such stars from West life and film directors I've never heard of etc etc

wizzardofdribble.
I think you maybe need a humour bypass my friend.

This is set out to be a memorable day and a time where our club will get some great press world wide. I tip my hat to the organisers.

[TheWiseMaster]

Wonder if this will be the club Open Day date?

Maybe a bit early - players just back?

[Lakeland Potter]

I don't normally travel down to Stoke for anything other than matches but this date has gone on my calendar and I will be there if I possibly can. Well done to the chap who had the idea and well done Stoke for going along with it.

And of course, well done Pele and the Archbishop for agreeing to be a part - I can't help wishing that it had been Blackadder and the Bishop of Bath and Wells, though. ;D

[plattamusii]

Styles can Ref it, bring back Cantona (Kung Fu) and Zidane (Chest Butt) to sort him out

Get Good Old Ashley Cole down there so Dicko can kick the Sh!t out of him.

His Mrs can dress up in a Stoke Shirt and sing :-

'something kinda ooh,
jumping on my TuTu'

Sounds Like heaven to me

[tijuanabrass]

These are two of the most iconic figures of teh 20th century. I hope the team sheets match up to their legendary status.

[Davef]

Apparently, Lee Sinnott was originally pencilled in to join Pele for the unveiling, but Banksy wanted someone with a bit of credibility left in the football, so Archbishop Tutu it is.