A BRONZE image of former Sunderland manager Bob Stokoe rushing on to the Wembley pitch at the end of the 1973 FA Cup final is expected be unveiled this summer.
Final planning permission for the location, expected to be in the shadows of the Stadium of Light, has been granted by Sunderland City Council.
A team of builders and architects is now busy working on a plinth for the statue in memory of Mr Stokoe, who died in 2004 at the age of 73.
A public campaign raised the £73,000 needed to build the statue, the commission for which was awarded to renowned sculptor Sean Hedges-Quinn. It should be in place before the start of the next season.
The project had the backing of Mr Stokoe's family and members of the Sunderland team that beat favourites Leeds United 1-0 to lift the most famous trophy in the domestic game.
Sunderland spokeswoman Lesley Callaghan said: "It was important that this project was done properly and every effort has been made to ensure that the statue will be a fitting tribute to a great man who played a hugely significant part in Sunderland's history."
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