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Steve Bloomer to be watching from the sidelines

Last updated : 10 October 2008 By Rams Mad Editor

The Steve Bloomer bust
The Steve Bloomer bust begins to take shape at Pride Park
Derby County and England legend Steve Bloomer is to be honoured by a bronze bust to be sited next to Paul Jewell's dug-out.

Work on the bronze bust started yesterday (Thursday 10th October 2008) and is expected t be completed by the 20th January, Steve Bloomers birthday. The bust will start a year long celebration of the 125th year of the club in 2009.

The bust is also believed to be a first in British Football, being the only bust that is pitch facing in the country and will truely make the song come true when "Steve Bloomer will be watching!"

Andrew Edwards will be working on the first stage of the bust inside the foyer of Pride Park stadium from Monday13th October for approximately five weeks. Anyone wanting to view is welcome at the ground where Mr Edwards will be pleased to meet you and answer any of your questions about the bust. A collection bucket is also available, should you wish to make a personal donation to the project.

Steve Bloomer bust
The Steve Bloomer bust will be cast in bronze and mounted on a plinth next to the home team dugout. So Steve Bloomer really "will be watching"
Rams manager Paul Jewell took a look at the early stages of production yesterday and was keen that people knew about and respected the proud tradition and heritage of Derby County and was surprised to see the unbelievable goal scoring record of Bloomer, adding "we could do with him on the bench now".

As you can see from the photograph the first stages of the bust look nothing like Steve Bloomer at the moment but the skill of Andrew Edwards has fashioned several high profile bronze busts of sporting figures. Most notable is the triple bronze statue at Stoke City's Britannia stadium of Sir Stanley Matthews and the superb depiction of Gordon Banks recently unveiled by Pele and Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu.

Andrew is the arguably best sporting sculptor in the country and the project was very lucky to have been able to get him to undertake the commission of the Steve Bloomer Bust. Don't forget to get down to the Stadium next week if you get the chance, Andrew is very friendly and a very interesting person to talk to, you can if you wish add your small piece of clay to the model and rightly say you involved in the making of the Steve Bloomer bust!..