A PETITION calling for a statue of England manager Gareth Southgate to be built in Crawley is closing in on 2,000 signatures.

As of 9am today, just over 1,100 people had added their name to the growing list of fans who are backing the idea of a permanent monument to the England boss.

The petition was set up by Facebook group Crawley Spotted more than three years ago, but it started circulating again after the Three Lions topped their group and made it through the knockout stages of Euro 2020.

A post written alongside the petition reads: “Gareth grew up in Crawley where his parents still live and we at Spotted Crawley believe the council should recognise him achievements with a statue of the man himself.

“Let’s reignite this petition. If England beat Germany surely it needs to happen?”

Proposed locations for the statue include Broadfield Stadium Roundabout, The High Street, Crawley and Queen’s Square.

Having topped Group D unbeaten and without conceding, the Three Lions will have to go up a gear when they return to Wembley tonight for the eagerly anticipated Euro 2020 last-16 encounter with Germany.

More than 40,000 will be under the arch for England’s biggest match on home soil since Euro 96, when Southgate’s saved penalty proved costly in the heart breaking semi-final shootout loss to Germany.

But Southgate says he does not see the game as a chance to exorcise any demons, rather an opportunity for his players to add an exciting new chapter to their story.

“This team, I’ve said for a long time, have had so many unique achievements and my focus is on this team and helping them to succeed,” Southgate said in conversation with BBC Radio 5 Live and talkSPORT.

“What’s happened for me as a player is totally irrelevant in terms of tomorrow’s game, so of course I’m always motivated to want to win.

“It’s an opportunity to get to the quarter final of a European Championship and it’s the sort of big game that we want to come out on the top side on.

“But anything other than that, it would be wrong for me to be even speaking about.

“This is about our players. This is their moment and it’s their opportunity.”