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Saturday, March 22, 2008
At the second time of asking a fitting tribute to Ted Bates was today unveiled at St Mary's.
A year after the first attempt was taken down amid outrage that the £112,000 statue looked nothing like the Saints legend who spent 66 years at the club as a player, coach, manager and director, today saw a lasting tribute to memory officially unveiled.
The great and good of Saints were at the unveiling including current manager Nigel Pearson and former boss Lawrie McMenemy.
Also there were two of Bates' former teammates, 82-year-old Bryn Elliott and 78-year-old John Christie.
They were accompanied by ten players who had played under Bates - Harry Penk, Bob McCarthy, Stuart Williams, Paul Bennett, Jim Steele, Hughie Fisher, Brian O'Neil, Norman Dean, Denis Hollywood, Pat Parker, Cliff Huxford and Mick Channon.
Ted Bates' widow Mary was present together with the couple's daughter Jackie Jarvis as the statue was unveiled to commemorate the great man's remarkable 65 years' service to Saints.
A large crowd of fans and dignitaries gathered outside St Mary's to watch the unveiling.
