islington Tribune - News: Arsenal ladies new honour

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Islington Tribune - by MARK BLUNDEN
Published: 18 May 2007

Vic Akers with coach Emma Hayes and winger Rachel Yankey

Arsenal Ladies’ new honour

LEADING politicians have thanked the Tribune for its campaign that has culminated in the record-breaking Arsenal Ladies football team receiving the borough’s highest honour.
Following pressure on Islington Council with last Friday’s ‘Historic Ladies are snubbed’ front page, Town Hall chiefs have agreed to award the whole team the Freedom of the Borough.
The squad clinched a series of historic victories this season – winning the league, the FA Cup, UEFA Cup and National League Cup and have not lost a game all season, totally eclipsing their male counterparts.
Receiving the Freedom of the Borough will mean a glittering civic ceremony at the town hall for the team and their families.
Councillor Catherine West, ther opposition Labour leader, said: “Although the council are finally giving Arsenal Ladies some recognition by giving them the Freedom of the Borough, it is only after a lot of pushing from Islington Labour councillors and a campaign from the Islington Tribune.”
The last people to receive the rare honour were Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and club chairman Ken Friar in October 2004.
Vic Akers, Arsenal Ladies manager, said: “We are all delighted to hear of the council awarding us the Freedom of the Borough as a team.
“It’s a reflection of the collective efforts of staff and players and 20 years of hard work to enable us to get where we are now. We all hope we can keep going forward with continued development of the game in this country and are truly very grateful to the borough for this enormous honour.”
Councillor Terry Stacy said last night (Thursday): “The residents of Islington wanted the council to acknowledge the success of Arsenal Ladies and we couldn’t think of a more fitting way of doing it than giving them the Freedom of the Borough.
“Their achievement is a great success for the club, for the borough and, more importantly, for women’s football.”
As a contemporary Islington twist, the ladies team will also receive free cappuccino for a year from a classy Upper Street café.
It has been the most successful season in the Ladies’ 20-year history.
Most of the team have full-time jobs, two are mothers and each captain of the English, Scottish and Welsh teams plays at Arsenal.
They practice two to three times a week and play regular matches – but not at Arsenal’s £390 million new Emirates stadium.
Instead, the record-breaking team are relegated to play at the ground of non-league Boreham Wood FC in Hertfordshire.

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