Memories of Mannion: South Bank's 'Golden Boy'

Growing up in South Bank and attending St Peter’s RC School as Mannion had many years earlier, I have always been aware of the esteem the ‘Golden Boy’ is held by the local community. I met Wilf only once when I was playing football (badly) as a teenager on a street corner in Hampden Street and that high esteem was evident. The legendary figure was revisiting his old street with a TV crew and was mobbed for autographs by youngsters like myself who had never seen Mannion play but appreciated his brilliance. This publication is the result of a collaboration with the Black Path Press, based at Golden Boy Green Community Centre in South Bank. With the Black Path Press based at the venue named after the ‘Golden Boy’, it seemed appropriate that the series should celebrate South Bank’s most famous son. The overwhelming response from the public sharing memories of Mannion has confirmed the adoration and respect for South Bank’s Golden Boy has not waned over the decades. Space means only a selection of memories shared at a summer event at Golden Boy Green and submitted online for inclusion in the booklet can be included here. It is hoped those that do feature give a sense of Wilf Mannion’s continued importance today.