My hometown of Ashington is renowned for producing top sport stars, from the great Jackie Milburn to Ashes winners Stephen Harmison and Mark Wood (he also won the cricket World Cup in 2019) to Jimmy Adamson, who managed and captained Burnley FC and famously turned down the England manager’s job in 1962. There must be something in the water up here for such a small place to produce these remarkable sportsmen.

From that list, of course, I have omitted the Charlton brothers who won the World Cup in 1966. Jack Charlton, who died last year, was born in Ashington in May 1935 and was the older brother of Bobby. He played over 600 games for Leeds United and also managed numerous top English sides, including Middlesbrough, Newcastle United and Sheffield Wednesday. But his most famous managerial achievements came as manager of the Republic of Ireland – who he guided to their first three international tournaments in Euro ’88 and the World Cups of 1990 and ’94.

A working-class family, the Charltons lived on Beatrice Street in Ashington. If you know Ashington well, you’ll know that this street makes up part of the colliery rows constructed by the Ashington Coal Company in the early 20th century to house the local miners. The miners themselves, albeit on a meagre wage, were always prepared to support the community by building the first schools, hospitals, libraries and, of course, parks. It was in these parks where Jack Charlton learned to play football as a young lad – he learned his trade in Hirst Park only a corner kick away from his home just off Third Avenue in the town.

Jack, who worked down the pit in his teens, grew up to become and icon in the town. Even in his twilight years, he was regularly spotted walking around the town with his flat cap on and glasses hanging around his neck, holding court with the locals. He was adored by young and old alike, who queued up for photos and selfies. Ashington was so proud of Jack: a proper Northern, working-class man who never forgot his roots – something made clear by his support for the miners during the long strike of 1984-’85.

When ‘Big Jack’ sadly died in July of last year, it was a no brainer that the town should recognise what he meant to the community. Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, it was an enormous challenge to raise the funds necessary. We had an ambitious target but even in the most difficult of years, I knew there would be an appetite for people from across the UK and Ireland to donate to this cause, because Jack was beloved locally, nationally, and internationally. Over the course of the campaign, the best intentions met the practicalities – the need to find and commission a sculptor, the likelihood that tens of thousands in funding would be requited. Despite some initial negativity from those who should know better, the campaign began with considerable interest from across the UK and Ireland.

Last week, I was able to proudly announce that we have raised £54,000 in the past year. This has allowed us to commission award-winning sculptor Douglas Jennings for a fitting statue. A massive thank you is due to Ashington Town Council, which has been outstanding throughout this process – not just in making a £10,000 contribution towards the statue, but also in the assistance from officers, which has been extremely helpful. I want to thank them for that. As chair of the working group, I would also like to thank the elected members involved for their input.

But the £54,000 figure is made up of an incredibly wide range of supporters – from small donations by individuals from across the UK and Ireland, to donations from trade union branches, contributions from the local Wansbeck Constituency Labour Party and Ashington Branch Labour Party and larger donations from local councillors, community organisations and businesses. We were delighted to receive a £5,000 donation from an ex-miner in South Yorkshire who now runs his own company and wanted to contribute. He read about the campaign on Twitter and sent me a direct message out of the blue – that is the kind of incredible warmth Jack Charlton generated.

I am hugely impressed by the efforts of the local community and the spirit they have expressed towards this project. Like every single one of them, I look forward to unveiling a fitting statue in what the Charltons proudly described as their very own Wembley: Hirst Park. We plan for it to be there for generations, for all to see and celebrate.

It will be a lasting memorial of a man who achieved so much during his life, but is known for his generosity and decency as a human being beyond all else. The statue will be a daily reminder to our working-class community in Ashington that no matter who you are and where you are from, nothing is out of reach.