Plans for a statue of Norwich City hero Justin Fashanu have moved a step closer after the council said it was open to discussing the idea. 

The news came as a new fundraiser was launched to honour Britain's first openly gay footballer. 

Proud Canaries launched the campaign for the tribute complete with memorial garden this morning, with Norwich City Council believed to be happy to discuss the idea of a statue on public land with the group.

City's LGBTQ+ supporter group is aiming to raise £150,000 for the bust, which it is hoped will stand on the banks of the River Wensum in the city's Riverside area.

The tribute will show the Norwich City legend celebrating his 1980 goal of the season against Liverpool and will be designed by leading British sculpture artist Taslim Martin.

Norwich Evening News:

Rob Sanderson, 34, who is part of the planning team said it was about more than football adding it was especially important amid the ongoing Qatar World Cup, where being gay is still illegal.

He said: "We don't just want a statue, we want this to be a place of reflection for people.

"It's incredibly important, the fact it's taken 32 years for another player to come out tells you how brave he was.

Norwich Evening News:

"Even though he was being pressured by papers saying we're going to out you, he said 'no, I'm doing this myself'.

"The bravery he showed in the face of adversity was huge and still is at a time when England have been unable to guarantee gay supporters will be safe at this World Cup."

Mr Sanderson quashed concerns of vandalism from homophobes, saying it happened it would "immediately shine a light on how hate is still a massive problem in society".

He also highlighted Fashanu's importance as the UK's first black player to be sold for £1m.

Norwich Evening News:

Mr Sanderson added: "He was a real trailblazer, racism is also still an issue at our football grounds, we still have monkey chants.

"It seems like everyone at the top in football agrees that racism is wrong though, not everyone in that space agrees that homophobia is.

Norwich Evening News:

"We can't have one form of discrimination being fine and another not being, it all needs to be stamped out."

Plans for a statue of the former City number nine have been ongoing since 2020 when a petition was launched.

The Fashanu fundraiser can be found at www.justinstatue.com.