Star studded autograph book unearthed at Stretford Mall (From Messenger Newspapers)

Former prime minister Ted Heath and footballing legend Sir Alf Ramsey signatures in autograph book unearthed at Stretford Mall

3:00pm Thursday 4th October 2012 in News

A STAR studded autograph book brimming with signatures from footballing legends to prime ministers has been unearthed at a Trafford shopping centre.

For more than four decades, the Stretford Mall has played host to millions of people including some very famous guests such as former prime minister Ted Heath and footballing legend Sir Alf Ramsey.

Their distinctive signatures were found in among other football stars such as Manchester City’s Joe Corrigan and Tony Book and Manchester United’s Clayton Blackmore and Viv Anderson.

Other celebrities leaving their mark include Miss World winner Helen Morgan who, shortly after her win, was controversially stripped of her title when it was discovered she had a son. This was not allowed under the rules of the competition.

Colin McCrory, Stretford Mall manager, discovered the dust covered annual while sorting through some old boxes in the management suite at the shopping centre.

He said: “When I first opened it up, it just looked like a list of names, like a signing in or out register, but a couple of those names caught my eye and I realised its significance.

“Clearly someone must have been very careful about making a record of all the famous and interesting people who visited the mall over a 25-year period from when the shopping centre first opened in 1969 until the last entry in June 1994.”

The fascinating historical register has also been signed by the fourth Dr Who, Tom Baker, a group of Japanese business leaders and World Cup winner and footballing legend Nobby Stiles.

Mr McCrory, who has worked at the Stretford Mall for seven years, said: “I haven’t been here long enough to know why these celebrities were visiting and it would be fascinating to hear of people’s memories of why they were here in the first place."

Do you remember a superstar visit at Stretford Mall? Email claire@ceidiog.com or call 01244 680385 with your star studded memories.