Council facing calls to honour footballer Beth Mead over Euros win
Scarborough Council has been urged to reconsider granting footballer Beth Mead Freedom of the Borough of Scarborough
Last updated 17th Jan 2023
A council on the North Yorkshire coast has been urged to reconsider granting an offer to England footballer Beth Mead, after her part in their Euros win.
Council leaders have been asked to reconsider granting Freedom of the Borough to the Lionesses star, who was born near Whitby.
The footballer was nominated for the award in August 2022 but didn't recieve the prize.
Councillors have said it would be fitting to give her the ward before Scarborough Council ceases to exist on the 1st April.
Heather Phillips, a Conservative councillor in the borough, told a meeting the authority should recognise her achievments and give her "more than a tea party".
Responding to Cllr Phillips, the mayor, Cllr Eric Broadbent said: “I totally agree, a fantastic thing for the nation and the football match was unbelievable.”
Leader of the Labour-led administration, Cllr Steve Siddons said: “I don’t disagree with the comments that Cllr Phillips has made.Â
“However, as I understand it, no actual nominations have been made for this and that is within the remit of the governance group.”
Speaking at the meeting, council director Lisa Dixon said that it would be possible to reconsider the nomination.
Mead was made an MBE in the King's New Year's Honours list at the end of 2022, and has been nominated for a top FIFA award.
The footballer is currently out with a leg injury, and is racing to be fit for this summer's Women's World Cup.