Regulars at a Rayleigh pub have no doubt over what should be inside their own version of the Millennium Dome.

They are petitioning the Football Association to honour the genius of soccer legend Sir Alf Ramsey with a statue.

Landlord of the Traveller's Joy Hungry Horse pub, Colin Benham, is starting a campaign to get Sir Alf - the hero who steered England to glory in the 1966 World Cup - recognised for his efforts.

It has been backed by hundreds of football-mad drinkers at the pub in Downhall Road and was launched as Colin and his customers set to work on a scaled-down version of the Millennium Dome, being built in the beer garden.

The Traveller's Joy dome will contain a £3,000 fibreglass statue of Sir Alf, now 70, who lives in Ipswich, Suffolk.

Soccer-lover Colin has spent £1,000 on the project, which is one twenty-fifth of the size of the original, and has been given the other £2,000 by the brewery which owns the pub.

Colin said: "I know Alf was knighted but he didn't get a medal for his achievements and he deserves better recognition.

"We think there should be a statue of him in Wembley Way for everyone to see.

"We are using the building of this dome to make people take notice and we hope customers from every Hungry Horse pub across the country will sign a petition we are circulating."

Drinkers at the pub are upset Sir Alf has been left out of the displays in the Millennium Dome at Greenwich.

Colin said: "I can't believe the dome organisers ignored Sir Alf when they decided who they wanted to represent the achievements of the millennium."

A 7ft high Millennium Gnome will soon be joining the display and Colin is busy trying to persuade one of his staff to dress up in Sheep costume and pose as a Millennium Clone.

Home grown dome - landlord Colin Benham has a dome of his own

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