Heaney is on crest of red and white wave

Heaney…an unbelievable level of support from Stoke fans

IN boxing, there are ticket sellers - fighters capable of putting more bums on seats than most - and then there’s Nathan Heaney, a middleweight who capable of turning any venue, in any corner of this island into a bearpit of Potteries pandemonium.
His adoring public sing Stoke city terrace anthem “Delilah”, they brandish large banners and they celebrated wildly when Nathan clinches victory, the man himself dancing in the ring and belts out the Tom Jones’ classic.
Seldom have I seen such euphoria and interest – and I’ve covered the sport for 50 years.

Heaney, articulate and likeable, knows his audience. In troubled, financial times he is the master of hard sell.

Heaney’s barmy army don’t care about the calibre of opposition. Jimmy Krankie could be in the opposite corner and a post fight carnival would still kicked off.
I have watched mystified as the giddy celebrations unfold, a knees-ups more befitting Heaney’s coronation as British champ.
They come by their coachload - and their hero gets the beers in.
Nathan, a man with a keen eye for PR, splashes out over £200 on lager for his travelling faithful to knock back during the journey. It has proved money well spent.
Carling don’t do boxing shows, but if they did Heaney would top the bill.

Heaney, now unbeaten in 16, is back on March 25 when he faces Jack Flatley (20-3-1) for the vacant WBA continental title at Telford International Centre.

Telford should brace itself for a roaring, red and white tsunami.

Not surprisingly, major promoter Frank Warren has been impressed - very impressed - by Nathan’s box office pulling power.
Heaney has successfully crossed the divide between football and boxing, Stoke City fans balancing fanatical support between their beloved team and beloved boxer.
Since the glory days of Birmingham City diehard Robert McCracken, Birmingham fighters have failed to do the same. They have failed to gain the same mass loyalty from Blues and Villa fans.
Why Stoke has become near hypnotised by Heaney’s ring exploits remains something of a mystery, however: he’s not the Potteries only paid pugilist. Even the man himself - by day, a sports teacher at Stafford College - struggles to provide an answer.
He is, in interview, a far cry from the extrovert who steps through the ropes. I expected Heaney to be brash and boastful: he was articulate, modest and measured in his responses. Trash talk was not on the agenda.

“When I had my pro debut, I had 60 people there - that was all,” he said. “From there, it’s grown and grown. To me, my fans are best mates. I have a good relationship with all of them, I really do.
“It is strange seeing Stokeys holding six foot banners saying, ‘he’s one of our own’. You think you don’t want to let them down. They are amazing - you don’t get better than Stokeys. The city may lack infrastructure, but it doesn’t lack heart.”
Heaney doesn’t buy in to the theory his popularity has been bolstered by Stoke City’s current struggle. Disillusioned football supporters have turned to him for a taste of sporting success, some say.
“I really don’t think that,” he insisted, “because Stoke City fans are city until they die. I think if we were in the Premier League, they’d still support me.”
Heaney’s support may have been something of a revelation to a TV audience witnessing his first televised bout, but the Stoke prospect is far from an overnight sensation.
He had over 90 fights for a handful of Potteries amateur clubs and beat a string of fine fighters, former WBO champ Terry Flanagan and English champ Adam Harper among them.
“I don’t know what it was,” he said, “but as an amateur my face didn’t seem to fit. One hundred per cent, I should’ve got an English vest, if nothing more than as a token gesture.
“I never got the chance to represent my country. but now I’m representing my city, which is the important one.”
With Heaney’s popularity growing with each triumph, the pipedream of a football stadium headliner could easily become a reality.
With Heaney’s popularity growing with each triumph, he may even eclipse pop star Robbie Williams as Stoke’s most famous son.
Hold on...now that is a main event guaranteed to sell out the bet365 - Heaney v Williams.
Heaney would win, but Robbie would give the crowd a much better rendition of Delilah!