Nathan Heaney joins Stoke-on-Trent Sporting Hall of Fame

-Credit:Reach Publishing Services Limited
-Credit:Reach Publishing Services Limited


Top boxer Nathan Heaney has been inducted into Stoke-on-Trent's Sporting Hall of Fame. The Potteries-born middleweight was added to the hall of fame along with Olympic swimmers Norman Wainwright and Bob Leivers in a special cermony at Stoke Town Hall.

Nathan is a former British and WBA Continental champion who is massively popular among boxing fans in Stoke-on-Trent and beyond. Along with his achievements in the ring, the former Stafford College teacher is also known as an engaging public speaker, appearing at events across the region.

Nathan, who will fight for the vacant WBA Continental Europe middleweight title next month, was formally inducted into the Sporting Hall of Fame during Thursday's full council meeting at Stoke-on-Trent City Council. He said he always loved telling the world about his home city.

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Nathan said: "I'm very fortunate that as a professional boxer my platform is on TNT sports, and I've got an amazing following to be fair, but try my best at every occasion to try to showcase Stoke-on-Trent. I love where I'm from. The people are what make this city special. Thank you so much, it is an honour."

The council's abandoned plans for an arena in Hanley were mentioned earlier in the meeting, and during his acceptance speech Nathan joked that he 'could have filled' it.

Boxer Nathan Heaney
Boxer Nathan Heaney has been added to Stoke-on-Trent's Sporting Hall of Fame

Norman Wainwright competed in three Olympics Games in 1932, 1936 and finally in 1948, when he captained the British team. He won medals at two European and Empire Championships.

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Norman's contemporary Bob Lievers trained in swimming at Longton Baths after moving to Stoke-on-Trent as a child. The middle distance freestyle swimmer competed for Great Britain at the 1932 and 1936 Olympics, and won medals in the 1934 and 1938 Empire Games.

Paul Newman, son-in-law of Norman, who died in 2000, said: "How Norman, who was born in Hanley in June 1914 and was the son of the Superintendent of Hanley Swimming Baths and Bob Leivers from Longton came to be major figures in the swimming world is an amazing story, which starts with two 17-year-olds from the Potteries being selected to swim at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 1932. Both built on this opportunity to win several national championships.

"They both worked for a living in Stoke-on-Trent and were an inspiration to other sporting amateurs both locally and nationally, with their exploits being recorded in local and national papers and on newsreels all over Britain. Their collection of national and international medals and trophies definitely qualifies them to be included in the city's Sporting Hall of Fame."

The new inductees join the likes of Sir Stanley Matthews, Phil Taylor and Gordon Banks in Stoke-on-Trent's Sporting Hall of Fame.

Lord Mayor Lyn Sharpe said: "Norman, Bob and Nathan have all represented our country with skill, dedication and commitment and we are proud to celebrate their accomplishments by honouring them with a place in the hall of fame. They epitomise what dedication and incredible sporting talent means and they have all individually left their mark not just on sport in Stoke-on-Trent, but internationally. Their achievements are inspiring and they have made every Stokie, including me, proud of them. It is an honour to celebrate their legacy with a place in the Sporting Hall of Fame."

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