Boxer Heaney joins hometown heroes hall of fame

Boxer Nathan Heaney has been formally inducted into his home city's sporting hall of fame.

Olympic swimmers Norman Wainwright and Bob Leivers were the other new inductees added to the list in Stoke-on-Trent.

Middleweight champion Heaney attended a ceremony at Stoke Town Hall on Thursday to mark his induction.

"I've got an amazing following and I try my best at every occasion to tell people that Stoke-on-Trent is the best place ever," he said.

He joins the likes of Sir Stanley Matthews, Eddie Hall, Jazmin Sawyers, Phil The Power Taylor and Gordon Banks.

Heaney is currently undertaking final preparations ahead of his next fight on 8 February.

"I love where I'm from. It's the people that make this city special," he said.

"I would like to say thank you to everybody who considered me to be put into the Sporting Hall of Fame in my home city of Stoke-on-Trent."

Wainwright, who was born in Hanley, competed in swimming at three Olympic games - in 1932, 1936 and 1948 - and won medals at two European and Empire Championships in 1934 and 1938.

He was also called to become captain of the British Olympic team at Wembley in 1948.

Leivers trained as a swimmer at Longton Baths and became a leading British middle-distance freestyle swimmer.

He competed for Great Britain at the 1932 and 1936 Olympics and won gold and silver medals at the 1934 and 1938 Empire Games.

Councillor Lyn Sharpe, lord mayor of Stoke-on-Trent, 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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