Row over knighthood petition for Giggs

Mike Keegan

May 02, 2009

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Giggs - A knight of the realm?

HE may have played his cards right during a glittering career with United, but Ryan Giggs lags behind Bruce Forsyth when it comes to the chances of a knighthood.

A group of United fans wanted to run a petition on Gordon Brown's website to have the Reds' legend made `Sir Ryan'.

But they have accused Downing Street officials of double standards after the petition was twice rejected as 'not appropriate'. Angry fans say a similar petition to see TV star Forsyth, 81, knighted HAS been allowed.

Now they have launched a private petition, collecting more than 2,000 signatures.

The campaigners say they will send the completed petition to Number 10.

Spokesman Patrick Casey said: "Once we have collected lots more signatures we will send Gordon Brown the petition. We are determined not to give up."

Winger Giggs scooped the PFA Player of the Year award this week.

Government minister and Salford MP Hazel Blears, who backs the campaign, said: "Ryan has an outstanding record on the pitch and a proud record of voluntary work."

To sign the petition visit: www.MustBeRed.com

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PO (02/05/2009 at 08:28)

A knighthood? You've got to be joking! Maybe somebody will petition for me to get one for my valuable posts on the M.E.N. website............ The world's gone mad.

Bejjy ex Salford now Malta, Malta (02/05/2009 at 08:52)

The way these knighthoods are handed out like confetti nowdays makes me think that there are more knights than not now living in the UK. And what is the necessity for such awards and why are they only given mainly to people in the public eye such as sports personalities. I am sure that Ryan Giggs is good at what he does and for which he gets paid handsomely. But what about the people in society such as surgeons, etc., who dedicate their lifes to their work for only a fraction of the salary that people like Mr Giggs gets for kicking a ball around the park. Do not the surgeons et al contribute more to society than Mr Giggs and his ilk.

J.Hall, Tameside (02/05/2009 at 09:04)

What about the men & women served and serving in Iraq/Afghanistan
This Countries gone COMPLETELY LUNATIC.
Next will be Dame Kerry

the monkey, bolton (02/05/2009 at 10:04)

Is it 1st APRIL??????????

Topman, Bolton (02/05/2009 at 10:20)

Yes give him a Knighthood, just as soon as he has given all his wealth to charity. He can keep enough to sustain his family lifestyle. He only has to giv away his surplus. That deserves a Knighthood because it can make a differance to other peoples lives. We will leave it with you Ryan!!The balls in your court now. Over to you son. What do you mean stick the Knighthood?

Tezza, Tyldesley (02/05/2009 at 11:22)

You can bet he will get one just like Kelly Holmes, Steve Redgrave and his boss Alex Ferguson. Who have done absolutely nothing for the good of society?
We really need to look at scraping this outdated backslapping list; most of the people on it have only ever feathered their own nest.
He might do a bit of work for charity mainly to make himself look good, but there are people out there who spend there lives doing work for no money at all.

33Years But47K (02/05/2009 at 11:44)

Well Fergie got one (I'm not sure what for exactly), so why not anyone who has ever been associated with the world's second biggest football club? It makes sense - how can anybody not love anything 'nitid? Ask those stupid united fans who set up the petition.

Guten Tag, Stress Strabe, Manchester (02/05/2009 at 11:45)

A knighthood? For what? They are really scrapping the barrel of the honours system now. Surely a knighthood is bestowed onto someone who has gone that bit extra in his field of expertise as well as a significant contribution to charity work? Ryan Giggs, although an asset to United, kicks a ball around for 90 minutes most weekends, and I've never heard of his charity work. Knighthoods, like the other awards, are now a joke, a backslapping exercise for the famous and wealthy.

Acid, Chadderton (02/05/2009 at 14:12)

Hmmmm, now let me see --- isn't Forsyth a Scottish name? What chance has a Welshman got of getting a knighthood from a Jock PM? And Tezza from Tyldesley --- I think you'll find that all the three people you mentioned have done more than their fair share of charity work - or does that not benefit society? Oh no - of course in your cynical mind they only do it for their own good (???).

Tezza, Tyldesley (02/05/2009 at 15:28)

Acid, Chadderton
cynical I maybe but do you seriously think that these people would do anything for charity ( with the exception of putting a few quid in collecting tin) if they were not in the position they were in, I think not. It might seem good if they give a charity £20k but hey when you’re earning £150k per week it’s just like someone on £200 per week giving £20.
There is a programme on C4 called “secret millionaire” and on that you see the real people who lots of work for the community and on the whole those are the people who never get recognised for the great work they do.
All giving these “celebrities” awards like this does is inflate their already over inflated egos.

Ace Shakespeare , manchester (02/05/2009 at 19:38)

I think i should get a knighthood for all my posts in this newspaper and the start of getting b-of-the-bang scrapped.

Acid, Chadderton (03/05/2009 at 17:31)

Tezza, there are a lot of people in their position who do absolutely nothing for charity or anyone else and still get knighthoods (old boy's network etc). Neither you nor I have a clue what it does for their egos to receive the award and neither do we know if they already have an over-inflated ego.

Ace, I for one would like to congratulate you on being instrumental in having that monstrosity removed from our sight. LOL

born a red., canada (03/05/2009 at 20:25)

I Think every all the taxpaying british people should get a nighthood for putting up with a so called leader like brown

Theowolfe (04/05/2009 at 11:52)

The real row should be why these idiotic anachronistic honours still exist. They only serve to prop up a system of deference and monarchial privilege. It is time to get shot of them and the lot at the top too.

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