A ‘priceless’ sculpture of Derby County legend Dave Mackay, a replica in all but size to one at Pride Park Stadium, is heading for auction to aid charity.
A striking figure of the player known as ‘The Rock’ was commissioned by the Rams after the club legend passed away at the age of 80 in 2015. Stoke-based sculptor Andy Edwards created the one-and-a-quarter life-size statue of Mackay, ball in hand, running on to the pitch. It stands tall outside the Players’ Entrance at Pride Park.
But before it could be cast a smaller preliminary model, known as a maquette, was needed to gain final approval. Just six identical maquettes were ever made – and one will be offered in Hansons Auctioneers’ Football and Sporting Auction in March thanks to the generosity of a man who’s supported the Rams ‘since I was born’.
Garry McBride, 68, from Quarndon, owner of Monumental Icons, said: “This maquette is priceless to the right person. It’s made out of exactly the same material as the sculpture at Pride Park, black granite. It was designed to look as if Mackay was hewn out of rock because his nickname was ‘The Rock’.
“I made the original moulds for Andy’s sculpture and the maquette. I didn’t tell anyone at the time but I made six maquette replicas. At the grand unveiling of the Dave Mackay sculpture in 2015 I took them along as a surprise. I presented one to Roy McFarland, one to the club and one to Dave Mackay’s wife. She burst into tears when I gave it to her.
“The event was attended by Derby County legends so, while I was there, I asked them to sign the oak backing on the maquette which is coming up for auction. Signatures include Charlie George, Kevin Hector, Alan Hinton, Roy McFarland and Steve Powell.
“I made the replicas as a record for myself. I always kept the other three but now I’ve decided to sell one to raise money for Derby County Community Trust. It deserves to fetch a good price because only a handful will ever exist. No other replicas can be made because the mould has been destroyed.”
The Mackay maquette, which stands 2ft high, will be offered in Hansons Auctioneers’ March 23 Football and Sporting Auction with a guide price of £500-£800 – and the charity effort has gained the blessing of the Mackay family.
Dave Mackay’s daughter Val, who lives in Nottingham, said: “Dad adored Derby – the club, the fans and the people. We’re proud of what he achieved. As well as being named footballer of the year in both Scotland and England, he was one of only 11 players to feature on a Royal Mail heroes stamp in 2013. As a family, we’re pleased the sale of the sculpture will benefit Derby County Community Trust.”
Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons and a huge Rams fan, said: “What an amazing thing to own if you’re a Derby County devotee. Mackay was a true Rams legend, unforgettable for anyone fortunate enough to remember the glory days of the 1970s and the part Mackay’s played in Derby’s promotion to the First Division in the 1960s.
“The sculpture will also appeal to fans of other clubs where Mackay made a huge impact, such as Heart of Midlothian and the Double-winning Tottenham Hotspur side of 1961. It’s a privilege to offer this item for auction and I very much hope Hansons can help it make a significant amount of money for charity.
“It’s a hugely generous gesture for Garry to part with this maquette. He’s a Rams fan through and through and it means a lot to him. His father was a turnstile operator at the Baseball Ground for 28 years from the 1950s and Garry sold sweets at the ground when he was 10.
“As well as making the mould for the Mackay sculpture, he created the plinth and seating for the Clough Taylor monument and a memorial plaque which can be seen by the Lionel Pickering entrance at Pride Park.”
Pete Collins, Business Development Manager at Derby County Community Trust, said: “Derby County Community Trust are very grateful for the support shown to the charity through the potential sale of the Dave Mackay sculpture at auction.
“As the charitable arm of Derby County Football Club, it is fantastic to see a piece of club memorabilia being auctioned to raise funds to further support the work we deliver in Derby and its community. It really is a case of the club’s history supporting the community’s future. We will look to utilise any funds raised to support our older people’s programmes which operate to tackle isolation and to provide positive physical and social activity.”
Edinburgh-born Mackay (1934-2015) made 122 appearances for Derby from 1968-71. He was 33 when Brian Clough and Peter Taylor signed him for £5,000 at the start of the 1968-69 season. He came fresh from spending nine years at Spurs, another club where he gained legendary status. They described him as ‘the heartbeat’ of their best-ever team.
Clough used Mackay in a sweeping role and encouraged him to use his influence to turn defence into attack. In his first season at the Baseball Ground, Mackay helped the club gain promotion to the First Division and was named FWA Footballer of the Year. Mackay was Derby’s manager from 1973-76 and guided the Rams to the League Division 1 title in 1975.
He represented Scotland 22 times and was selected for their 1958 FIFA World Cup squad. He is listed by the Football League in their ‘100 Legends’ as well as being an inaugural inductee to both the English and Scottish Football Halls of Fame.
The Dave Mackay maquette will be offered on March 23 in a Football and Sporting Auction at Hansons, Heage Lane, Etwall, Derbyshire. To find out more, email David Wilson-Turner: [email protected].
