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Thousands of excited people turned out in Coventry to catch a glimpse of a sporting idol.

Boxing legend and former world heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali was greeted by astonishing scenes of adulation.

When the huge crowd paid tribute to the King of the Ring, even the superstar himself was knocked out.

"I didn't expect this - the crowds are bigger than I thought," he whispered.

The date was August 11, 1983, and the superstar was besieged by more than 3,000 admirers outside the Unit Sales DIY store, in Rotherham Road, Holbrooks.

Screams of "Ali, Ali" rang out and a sea of autograph books was waved as Ali was pushed and jostled after emerging from his golden Rolls-Royce.

Coventry's own former boxing star, Errol Christie, was just another admirer but he seized a chance to mock spar with his hero.

Ali also thrilled Coventry disabled bowls champion Yvonne Hawtin by inviting her to stay at his mansion at the following year's disabled

Olympics in Los Angeles.

Yvonne said at the time: "It was fantastic. He gave me his address and telephone number and told me to contact him."

After lunch at the Royal Court Hotel in Keresley, Ali was whisked off to the Unit Sales store in Warwick, where the boisterous hand-shaking began again.

There he met former British middleweight champion Randolph Turpin, from the famous Leamington boxing family.

Ali mania then returned to the streets of Coventry as the "Louisville Lip" reached the final destination of his 10-day tour - former British heavyweight boxing champion Jack Bodell's fish and chip shop in Jardine Crescent, Radford, Coventry.

More than 1,500 people crowded round the Knockout fish bar to see Ali reunited with his former sparring partner for the first time since 1966.

As thousands of fans went home to savour the memory of Ali's visit, he pledged to Coventry: "I will return."

And he just about kept to his word when, only nine months later, "The Greatest" thrilled the crowds at Nuneaton Borough Football Club on May 7, 1984.

The showman brought his own magic to fans during the Midland Floodlit Cup final between Boro and Bedworth United - the first football match of his life.

Former club chairman Noel Kelly said: "I had a magic day with him.

"My claim to fame is that it was the first football match he'd ever been to and I don't think he's been to one since."

Mr Kelly, now aged 65, fondly remembers being red-faced after staff forgot Ali had become a Muslim.

He said: "Someone forgot about his religion and there were all these pork and ham sandwiches.

"Ali was opening up the batches, taking the meat out and putting it in the ash tray and then eating the sandwich - it was a big clanger to drop!

"He was such a lovely bloke and he had time for everybody.

"It was great to have the most famous sportsman in the world at our ground - it's something you never forget."