GERRARD ASSURED OF AT LEAST ONE AWARD IN 2007
Paul Rogers 16 December 2006
Barcelona may stand in the way of Steven Gerrard leading Liverpool towards a second Champions League final in three years but the Reds captain is already assured of one award in 2007 – the Honorary Freeman of the borough of Knowsley.
Members of Knowsley Borough Council voted unanimously to honour the England international at a meeting on Wednesday with Council leader Ron Round explaining the award was just recognition for all the Liverpool star has achieved in the game so far in his career.
"Steven is an exceptional talent and a real ambassador for the borough of Knowsley," he said of the midfielder who was brought up in Huyton. "Despite his phenomenal success on the pitch, he is still a Huyton boy at heart and is the first to acknowledge the influence of his roots. He’s very highly thought of in the area and in my opinion would be thoroughly deserving of this honour.”
The ceremony, due to be arranged for early 2007, will mark the first time the honour has been bestowed since 1988 and just the fourth occasion since Knowsley Council was formed in 1974. The title of Honorary Freeman of the Borough of Knowsley is the highest accolade which can be bestowed by Knowsley Council on one of its citizens.
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