BBC Two is reshowing Marvellous, its touching drama about the life of Neil Baldwin.
The BBC describes the 90-minute film as “the inspirational and incredible true story of Neil Baldwin, a man who refused to accept the label of learning difficulties, and who has led an extraordinary life”.
He is played by Frost/Nixon actor Toby Jones.
Baldwin is an honorary graduate of Keele University, a registered clown and a former Stoke City kit man.
He was appointed to the club in the 90s by manager Lou Macari, who once described him as “the best signing I ever made”.
Here is his incredible true story…
Who is Neil Baldwin?
Baldwin was born in Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire in March 1946. He was diagnosed with a learning disability as a child and required speech therapy.
He left school aged 16 to join Sir Robert Fossett’s Circus, the oldest circus in England, where he performed as Nello the Clown for three seasons.
Keele University
When he was 14 he started turning up to nearby Keele University, where his mother worked as a cleaner, to greet new students.
Baldwin was not asked to do this, nor was he paid, but his cheery demeanour quickly gained him a reputation at the university, who welcomed him with open arms.
He was granted honorary life membership of Keele University Students’ Union in 1968, and in 2013 he received an honorary degree from the university.
He is something of an unofficial mascot for the university. On 12 March 2000, his own team of Keele University students (the Neil Baldwin Football Club, formed in 1967, whose president was Kevin Keegan) played an all-star side of former Football League players including Macari.
Stoke City FC
Macari made Baldwin Stoke’s kit man in the 90s, and much like he did with Keele’s students, he lifted morale amongst players with his joyful attitude towards life.
In 1993 Mancari brought Baldwin on as a substitute for five minutes in Gordon Cowans’ testimonial match against Aston Villa.
The former manager also dedicated seven pages of his autobiography to Baldwin, calling him a “man without an angle and there aren’t many of them in football”.
In 2015 Stoke City named him their supporter of the year.
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3ggLCix
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