Row over Giggs' honour

Deborah Linton

September 27, 2008

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Ryan Giggs

MANCHESTER United star Ryan Giggs is set to be awarded the freedom of Salford in a move that has sparked a row with union chiefs in the city.

The M.E.N. understands plans are in the final stages to grant the footballer the freedom of his home town - an honour last awarded to South Africa's freedom fighter Nelson Mandela in 2005.

But Unison chiefs in the city are unhappy with the decision after nominating recipient Burmese political prisoner and Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi for the honour in January.

The union claims the council has run with their idea to resurrect the honour, which has not been awarded for three years, but shown no consideration for their suggested recipient, the leader of the Burmese democracy movement who has been under house arrest for almost 13 years after campaigning against Burma's undemocratic dictatorship.

They are now writing to 34-year-old Giggs, who was raised in Salford and lives in Worsley, to ask him to share the honour with Aung San. Unison's Salford branch secretary Ray Walker raised their nomination with council leader John Merry again this summer, but received a response confirming Giggs as the choice.

The email from Coun Merry stated: "While I support the plight of Aung, the city council has already nominated and accepted Ryan Giggs for the honour and arrangements are now in the final stages."

Mr Walker said: "We think Ryan Giggs is a great local hero and exemplary footballer who is deserving of the honour, but for a number of years Unison's policy has been to show support for Aung San and the Burmese people.

"What is particularly disappointing is that this honour hadn't been presented for a number of years and after we put it back on the agenda our nomination has not even been considered.

Honour

"The city has awarded the honour to a political prisoner before, Mandela, and we believe there is no reason why the award can't be shared.

"Ryan Giggs seems to be morally aware and does a lot of good work for charity and we hope he will respond positively and help to raise the profile of her plight."

Giggs is widely recognised for making a marked contribution to Salford, having attended Moorside High School and played for Deans sports club, where his talent was spotted first by Manchester City and then United.

Granting the freedom of Salford was scrapped in the 1970s when the city expanded, but was revived in 2004 when it was awarded to composer Sir Peter Maxwell Davies. Only Mandela has been made a freeman since.

Salford council insisted that Giggs has been approved as a recipient by the ruling Labour group, but the decision has yet to be rubber stamped by the full council.

However, as the Labour group has a comfortable majority in the chamber, it is unlikely their decision will be reversed.

Coun Merry said: "Freedom of the City of Salford is obviously a great honour but as these are personal awards it is not appropriate to discuss individual nominations publicly before all the formal processes have been exhausted."

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steve grimsley, Macclesfield (27/09/2008 at 06:37)

RYAN WHO?
LOOKS LIKE RYAN WILSON TO ME

emmgee (27/09/2008 at 07:24)

Suppose Utd are the biggest team in Salford?!

David Jones (27/09/2008 at 08:08)

Congratulations to Ryan.

I can't think of a more deserving recipient.

Guten Tag (27/09/2008 at 09:46)

Yes, well done Ryan. I can't think of anyone better from Salford or in fact, the world. You deserve this pat on the back for playing football for 90 minutes each week. Well done! And before anyone of the usual suspects start moaning, yes, I'm a City supporter, and no, I don't think nurses, doctors, soldiers, Police or Fire services deserve this. Not like any of them would be from Salford, of all places, is it?? Or work as hard as a footie star??

Mark Hutton (27/09/2008 at 10:57)

Salford Council need to be ashamed of themselves. There's no one more deserving of this honour than Ryan Giggs. He is a fantastic role model to kids in Salford and everywhere else. He has shown that kids from broken homes etc can succeed and reach the pinnacle of their career. In spite of being born in Cardiff, he's a proud Salfordian,and whether the civil servants think so or not, he deserves it more than any other PC nomination. Well done Giggsy.

Salford Pete (27/09/2008 at 11:56)

Well done Giggsy, but good on Salford Unison for nominating Aung San Suu Kyi who is such an inspirational figure, akin to the previously honoured Nelson Mandela.

I can't see why both shouldn't get it. In very (very) different ways they're great role models for the people of Salford

Ian Dudson (27/09/2008 at 12:33)

Ryan Giggs is a roll model for the young, he comes from Salford and as such it is appropriate he shuld be honoured. UNISON should keep their noses out. Who the council decides to honour is nothing to do with UNISON. This person from Burma may be a very good & deserving person but what has he to do with Salford. As a UNISON member I believe they should concentrate on their members and NOT foreign politics or there own, personal agendas. Ian D

Salford Pete (27/09/2008 at 12:49)

Ian D. I don't see why Salford Unison can't nominate someone like Aung San Suu Kyi. Afterall there is a precedent with Nelson Mandela receiving the award.

I thought that as a union member you might be a little more in favour of solidarity with the people who need it too

Lawrence Glendinning (27/09/2008 at 15:11)

What has Ryan done to enrich the lives of those who live in Salford?

Why can't the freedom of Salford to staff members of the lcoal fire, police or ambulance services?

I am sorry but this constant fawning of so called football stars is getting silly.

Time to draw the line.

Colin Bells bad knee, salford (27/09/2008 at 15:34)

Suppose Utd are the biggest team in Salford?!
emmgee ,

united are not and never will be from salford they are in stretford thank god. but as for ryan he does deserve it he is a salford lad thru and thru with all his money he could live anywhere but he decided to stay in sunny old salford well done giggsy and im a city fan

treakle (28/09/2008 at 06:44)

Well done Giggsy,
what exactly has Aung San Suu Kyi done to promote Salford in a good light or in deed be a true Salfordian?
If Salford council are stuck for nominees, I'm always available, I've done nothing for Salford, been there once though.

Barnham Blue (28/09/2008 at 11:30)

Duhh! Who isn't very clever?

Ian Dudson - Aung San Suu Kyi is a WOMAN, and is worth about 100 Ryan Giggs;
Mark Hutton - the City Council want to award Giggs. Why do you think they should be ashamed of themselves?

You really should think before you start firing from the hip to support your beloved Welsh footie star...

Salford Pete (28/09/2008 at 15:40)

From my knowledge of these sort of awards they can be given by city's to people to signify their support for what the type of person and who they stand for.

Quite a few other city's have given the award to Aung San Suu Kyi.

I'd encourage people to read up on this woman and I don't think many would begrudge such an award being given to her in addition to Giggs

Octavius Tinsworth Ace (29/09/2008 at 09:37)

Much as Aung San Suu Kyi is worthy of recognition, I think the "freedom of Salford" or indeed any city should be restricted to those with at least some sort of link with the place. Otherwise the whole gesture becomes meaningless and as worthless as those "honorary doctorates" that universities insist on dishing out whenever they want a bit of publicity or a new building opened.

Giggs certainly deserves the award. He's one of the outstanding footballers of his generation with an unfeasibly long list of honours to his name and has been a perfect role model for young, aspiring footballers. He's kept his feet on the ground and spends a lot of time on charity work. I dare say a good few of the people of Salford could learn a thing or two from Giggs's example.

kendomat, Salford (29/09/2008 at 10:25)

I dont feel it is right to give a commendation to some one most people in Salford have ever heard of. I will hold my hands up and say I have no clue who he or she is, and have they ever been to Salford or know it even exsists.

I believe freedoms of city awards should be kept for those that mean something to the majority of those in the city, and have done something or meant something to those inthe area.

Out of the 2 RG means more to me, and his commitment to sport has given hope to many esp those who train at deans etc.

This award is has no place for some political rightousness.

Salford Pete (29/09/2008 at 15:20)

"Otherwise the whole gesture becomes meaningless and as worthless as those "honorary doctorates" that universities insist on dishing out whenever they want a bit of publicity or a new building opened. "

Octavius Tinsworth Ace, funny you should say that as the University of Salford gave Giggs an honourary degree only this year!

I've a lot of time for Giggs and think he's a worthy recipient, but don't really see why Aung San Suu Kyi shouldn't get it too to show we identify with her. I think she is a unique case and it would be a powerful symbolic gesture given that she is denied freedom within her own country.

Second Row Lump, Manchester (29/09/2008 at 15:42)

Prison in Burma or the Freedom of Salford?

Tough choice this one.

Id stay where you are love!

Ashin Mettacara (01/10/2008 at 16:25)

This is lunatic idea. Freedom award is nothing concern with a footballer. It is not appropriate to compare Aung San Suu Kyi and Ryan Giggs equally. After the Buddhist monks, Aung San Suu Kyi is highest revered by the people of Burma.

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