Relatives to turn out for ‘Lord of Milan’ commemorations

This week ITV News Central has been following the story of one Nottinghamshire man’s rise from relative insignificance to a footballing legend.

Today as part of commemorations to mark the 100th anniversary of Herbert Kilpin's death, a Nottingham City Transport Bus is due to be unveiled outside the place where he was born, above his fathers butchers shop on 191 Mansfield Road in Nottingham.

Born in January 1870, Herbert was one of many children in his family and was a keen amateur football player, playing for two local teams on the Forest Recreation Ground.

For many, working life started early in those days and not content on following in his fathers footsteps, Herbert began a career in the growing lace market where he found it offered him the opportunity to travel, a real rarity in these times.

Those travels took him first to Turin and later on to Milan, once there, he decided he wanted to form a football club, so after many discussions and with the support from industrialists he formed ‘Milan football and cricket club’ in 1899– that club would later become the mighty AC MILAN.

Herbert's great great niece Helen Shirland reveals the moment she found out about her ancestors astonishing connections.

Herbert died on 22nd October 1916 and was buried in Milan, the city he had come to call home, a long way from his Nottingham roots.

To this day he is known as the father of Italian football in the country where he is considered a legend, however, in Nottingham not many people know of him and even less know where he was born.

It’s hoped that todays events will help put Herbert in his rightful place on the Midlands map forever.

Watch Peter Bearne's two part series in full as he takes a look back at the life of Herbert Kilpin.

Part 1:

Part 2: