Scottish football club is ridiculed for Braveheart-inspired 'Freedom' statue of Mel Gibson's William Wallace

A statue once described as 'one of the most of the loathed pieces of public art in Scotland' has finally settled at the football club in the hometown of it's creator. 

The statue is of William Wallace, Scottish knight who fought against the English army in the 13th-centurry and became the basis for Mel Gibson's character in Braveheart.  

First created in 1996 and aptly called 'Freedom', it has toured the country for years, but regularly suffered vandalism and jibes on social media for its poor resemblance to Gibson, who famously played Wallace in the Oscar-winning film Braveheart. 

Brechin City, who play in the Scottish Highland League, unveiled a statue of William Wallace -- aka Braveheart -- in front of their Glebe Park home Sunday

Church leased the statue to the local council in Stirling, who in 1997 installed it in the car park of the visitor centre at the foot of their Wallace Monument. 

However, the statue became a target for vandals in 1998, when the statue was found having had it's face gouged out and the entire statue covered in white paint. 

The statue had to be put in a cage to be protected.  

Church has unsuccessfully tried to auction off his cherished work and even failed to sell it to Donald Trump's Menie estate golf resort 

Since 2008, Church has unsuccessfully tried to auction off his cherished work and even failed to sell it to Donald Trump's Menie estate golf resort.

It eventually stayed in the garden of Church's home, where it was incorporated into a replica of a castle, with additions to it that included the head of the decapitated governor of York.

The statue has been mocked for years and the unveiling on Sunday prompted comparisons to pop culture figures ranging from Susan Boyle to Indiana Jones villains, with even one suggesting it looked like a similarly ridiculed bust of footballer, Cristiano Ronaldo.  

A large crowd gathered in Brechin outside Glebe Park for the unveiling

Brechin City, who play in the Scottish Highland League, unveiled the statue in front of their Glebe Park home Sunday. 

Church called the statue 'the most important piece I have created in my life.'

'When Tommy came up with the idea we were delighted to accept his offer which will not only be appreciated by our own supporters but also visiting supporters to the ground,' said Clark Renilson, Brechin City's community manager.  

Church, seen here posing with the sculpture he says he's most proud of, has been unable to find his work a permanent home

The event was hosted by STV newsreader Andrea Brymer, a Brechin native, and proceeds from the event went to charities for kidney dialysis. 

'The statue itself is a remarkable piece of craftsmanship by a local man who put Brechin on the map with his talents,' added Renilson. 'Having previously been on display all over Scotland, we are delighted that the statue will be situated within our ground for all to see and appreciate.' 

'It's probably the most unveiled statue in the world – this is its fourth time – but I'm delighted it's finally found its resting place,' Church told The Courier Sunday.

Church gathered with Brechin City officials and STV presenter Andrea Brymer for the unveiling

The statue has continuously drawn controversy, but for how it looks and who it depicts.  

It was once described as among the most loathed pieces of public art in Scotland by The Scotsman because it angered locals who hated the celebration of the Hollywood image of Wallace.

Many on Twitter pointed out that the statue more resembles the portrayal of Wallace by Gibson. 

The statue -- as many modern statues -- has drawn some controversy, but for how it looks and who it depicts 

Some even poked fun at the crowd in attendance, which appeared to be several local seniors 

Many on Twitter are pointing out that the statue is more a resemblance of the portrayal of Wallace by Gibson

The film, which has several historical errors, made over $200 million at the box office and won five Academy Awards. 

Others pointed out that Wallace's expression on Church's statue looks not like a battle cry but 'like he accidentally stepped on' a piece of Lego. 

Another compared it to Edvard Munch's famous painting, The Scream.   

Several used references to pop culture to mock the statue

The melting face in Indiana Jones was just one of the pop culture references used to skewer the statue

Some also compared the statue to other more bizarre statues of football heroes, like the much-ridiculed Cristiano Ronaldo statue in Portugal

Others compared it to the much-ridiculed Cristiano Ronaldo statue in Portugal.

The bronze bust of Ronaldo was unveiled in 2017 at the airport in his hometown of Madeira, now named as 'Aeroporto Cristiano Ronaldo.' 

It suffered the internet's cruelty as well, where it was was compared to Niall Quinn, Art Attack and Paul Konchesky, but Ronaldo was hugely proud of the airport dedication.