The decision to move Alan Shearer’s statue on to stadium land has been hailed as the ‘cherry on top of the cake’ by Tom Maley, the man who sculpted the tribute to the Newcastle United legend. Work is continuing to relocate the statue from Barrack Road to the steps of Gallowgate End next to the Sir Bobby Robson statue.
With the new plinth now in place, the delicate job of removing the statue from its current spot in under-way with scaffolding now put up around Shearer and drilling going onto free the sculpture from its foundations. Maley, who also created the Sir Bobby statue, was busy doing some upkeep on the Shearer when he spoke to Chronicle Live.
Asked if there was a sense of pride about the move, he said: “Very much so. It’s going exactly where I would have loved it to have gone in the first place. “This is a really great result - it’s a good move and it’s going to look so much better in its new place, and right next to Bobby as well.
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“It’ll be great to see people standing in front of it in its new spot - enjoying the statue when they’re having their photograph taken. It’s the cherry on the cake.
“It’s not an easy job [to move it] - we’re having to break out all the old concrete because statues are usually put into stay! So we have to hit it with a heavy tool to get it out but we’ll get out and get it moved.”
When Amanda Staveley, Jamie Reuben and the Public Investment Fund took over Newcastle back in October from Mike Ashley, one of the first things fans wanted to see was the relocation of Shearer’s statue alongside the renaming of NINE bar back to the name of the legend. The bar earlier this year saw its name changed back to Shearer’s and the owners have moved quickly to ensure the statue is on stadium land.
When it was unveiled back in 2016, the statue had to be placed just outside of the stadium as the club refused for it to be placed within St James’ Park. The work was commissioned by former club chairman Freddy Shepherd at the cost of £250,000.
Maley told Chronicle Live that the Shepherd family are happy to see the statue relocated. “I’ve spoken to the Shepherd family who own the state and they’re all delighted with the move. I’ve not spoken to Alan yet but I believe he’s fine with it and is very happy with what is happening.”
Getting a photograph taken by the Shearer statue is something most fans have done, and the Sir Bobby Robson statue has become a popular meeting point for supporters on match days. Visitors to Newcastle often seek out both sculptures when exploring the city, and for Maley he never gets bored of seeing the snaps.
“It’s funny, a lot of sculptors once the work is done, you tend to move on and leave it but it is nice when I see people photographing Bobby or stopping and having their photograph taken next to Shearer, it is a nice feeling and it’s kind of job done.
“To have Shearer next to Bobby, it’s absolutely fantastic. It is going to be really something to see them both there. I’m looking forward to seeing that myself.”
Moving the statue is seen as another easy win for the new owners but nonetheless a move that most supporters have wanted for a very long time. It’s something the new owners did not have to do and Maley is well aware of that.
“It’s a very graphic representation so people can see - it’s not a massive change but it’s a significant one. I’ve got nothing but praise [for the owners] - it came out of the blue and I’m absolutely honoured and delighted."
