Statue for Mr Norwich City?
THE man dubbed "Mr Norwich City" should be immortalised in a statue at Carrow Road, according to Canary fans.
Club president Geoffrey Watling, who died last week aged 91, looks set for the tribute after a leading fans' spokesman revealed it was high on his association's agenda.
Similar tributes for club legends have been erected at other grounds throughout the country - including two at Ipswich Town.
Roy Blower, chairman of the Norwich City Independent Supporters' Association (NCISA), said: "He's Mr Norwich City and there could be no finer accolade than to provide a statue in his honour - I'm sure that will happen.
"I think I can safely say that it will certainly feature high on the agenda for our next meeting.
"I'm sure there will be a groundswell of opinion for it in the next few weeks."
He said that any such tribute would be done in tandem with the club, and that NCISA would not seek to force the club's hand in any way.
He added that no potential appeal for donations towards a statue would be organised until after Mr Watling's funeral on November 29.
If the appeal does go ahead it will reflect a similar initiative south of the county border.
Ipswich Town supporters raised around £50,000 towards two bronze statues, of Sir Alf Ramsey and Sir Bobby Robson, for outside the Portman Road stadium.
Paul Webster, a spokesman for Capital Canaries, said: "I think it's a really good idea. I can't think of a person to do with Norwich City that's more deserving of a statue.
"It would be a great way to finish off the ground which is coming along nicely."
Mr Watling was associated with the Canaries for the best part of five decades.
He held almost every role possible at the club; from supporter to shareholder and owner to chairman.
He is widely credited with saving the club from financial oblivion on two occasions, once in the 50s and again in the 90s.
Andy Leeder, a spokesperson for Midland Canaries, said: "There ought to be something but in terms of what it should be I don't know.
"Other clubs have their Matt Busbys but it is up to the club to determine what it should be.
"Without him we have got to question whether we would be here now. Someone of his stature should be recognised."
If a statue of Mr Watling did go ahead it would be out of keeping with football tradition. Most tributes are of former players or managers, such as Billy Bremner at Leeds United, and Matt Busby at Manchester United.
A Norwich City club spokesman said: "Geoffrey Watling's funeral is on Monday and now is the time for us to grieve and pay our respects to Mr Watling and the tremendous contribution he made to the club during his life.
"At some point in the future it will be appropriate to consider what form of tribute the club should make to recognise Mr Watling's fantastic contribution to the Canaries' cause, but that time is not now."
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lets hope theres a statue! theres no one else who deserves 1 as much as Mr Watling does!
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Leroy!, Leroy!, Leroy! ---------------------------------------------
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