England captain Leah Williamson awarded Freedom of the City of Milton Keynes
It comes after she led the Lionesses to Euro 2022 glory on Sunday
Last updated 3rd Aug 2022
European Football Champion Leah Williamson has been awarded the Freedom of the City of Milton Keynes.
This comes days after she led the Lionesses to Euro 2022 glory on Sunday.
Williamson will be the very first recipient of the award, as Milton Keynes only recently got awarded city status to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Speaking with Greatest Hits Radio on Tuesday (2/8), Pete Marland, leader of the Council for Milton Keynes, said: “I think to award it to the captain of a successful England football team… is fantastic”.
The 25-year-old England captain was born in Milton Keynes and received her primary and secondary education there.
Although the Freedom of City award is largely ceremonial, with no responsibilities attached, this does not mean it is without benefits.
“Maybe we will give her free parking for life, or free entry into the shopping center, who knows,” Marland says.
Williamson has already received a similar honour, receiving the Freedom of the City of London with her teammates on Monday.
Marland hopes that the legacy of the Lionesses' victory will be that girls and women's sports are taken as seriously as men's sports, with the same support network and resources.
The Labour politician's sentiments are being echoed across the country, with calls for increased investment in women's football, specifically the Women's Super League (WSL). This, he believes, could make it easier for young girls to nurture their passion for the game.
“…With money comes professionalism. With professionalism come success. So, we want to make sure that girls don't have to go through the same struggles to become professional footballers that Leah and her predecessors have.”
The Lionesses victory marks England’s first competitive football tournament win in almost 60 years following Germany’s 2-1 defeat at Wembley Stadium.