SIGNED SPORTING ICONS ITEMS ADDED TO OUR EXHIBITION

By From Town To TownToday 11:03Today at 11:03:45

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🌏🌟 RARE SIGNED WORLD SPORTING ICONS ITEMS ON DISPLAY 🌟🌏

Where in Nuneaton can you see rare hand signed memorabilia from two superstars of the sporting world for FREE? 🤔⚽️🥊✍️

The Chilvers Coton Heritage Centre in Avenue Road is the answer (open Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday's 10-1pm), FREE ENTRY 👏👏

Thanks to kind donations we have added a number of new items including the match ball used when Muhammad Ali visited Manor Park, signed by the great man himself, and a George Best signed programme from his one appearance for Nuneaton Town Football Club to our permanent display there 🌟✍️✍️🌟

We would like to thank the family of former chairman Noel Kelly and his great friend Mike Malyon for donating the match ball so that the townsfolk can view it for generations to come 👏👏

FTTT asked Mike for his memories of Ali's visit, he replied;
"Muhammad Ali was once described as 'the most famous man in the world' and on Bank Holiday Monday, May 7th, 1984, he paid a surprise visit to Manor Park. Fans who arrived, on a bitter cold morning, to watch the Midland Floodlit Cup final between Nuneaton Borough and Bedworth United were stunned when Ali arrived sitting in the back of a open-top 1928 Rolls Royce car. He was alongside Borough chairman Noel Kelly who had negotiated to get Ali to attend the match, while the former world boxing champion was in the Midlands on a promotional tour. Ali was driven around the pitch, throwing signed tennis balls to the crowd, who stood in disbelief to see 'The Greatest' in person. The game finished 1-1 after extra time . The teams shared the trophy, which was presented by Ali, along with medals to the players. Afterwards, at a reception in the Vice Presidents Bar, Ali posed for photographs and stayed for over an hour, demonstrating magic tricks. He was interviewed by Nuneaton and Bedworth Trader Mike Malyon and also scribbled his name on the match ball, handed to him by Noel Kelly. After passing away, in November 2023, that actual ball was passed on to Mike, via Noel's son Sean Kelly, and has now been donated to the From Town to Town exhibition."

Do you have memories of George Best's and Muhammad Ali's visits to The Boro? ⚽️🥊💥
We'd love to hear them if you do.

From Town To Town - Nuneaton's Footballing Heritage

Website: www.fromtowntotown.org.uk
Facebook: /FromTown2Town
Twitter: @FromTown2Town
Email: [email protected]

Edited by From Town To Town at 11:04:24 on 2nd February 2025