Eddie Howe's Freedom of Newcastle confirmed
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe's freedom of the city status has been confirmed by councillors.The Magpies boss was nominated following the club's Carabao Cup win in March - the side's first major trophy in decades.Councillors have now voted to approve the motion to give him the highest civic honour the city can bestow.It has previously been awarded to other leading figures in Newcastle's football history including Sir Bobby Robson, Alan Shearer and Jackie Milburn.
Howe was put forward by council leader Karen Kilgour after the club's 2-1 win against Liverpool.Speaking after his status was confirmed, she said he would be "forever be a hero to Newcastle United supporters for his achievements during his time at the club".She added: "That special day at Wembley gifted Geordies something they hadn't seen in 70 years – domestic trophy success."For a city that lives and breathes sport, with a football club around which so many lives revolve, the wait to see black and white shirts lift a trophy at the home of football had long felt it would go on forever."Hundreds of thousands of fans lined the streets of Newcastle when the trophy was taken through the city centre on 29 March in an open-top bus parade.A further celebration event was staged on the Town Moor, hosted by Geordie TV presenting duo Ant and Dec.The club went on to secure qualification for next season's Champions League on the final day of this season despite a 1-0 loss at home to Everton.
Kilgour added Howe was "a fantastic ambassador" for the city and described him as "passionate yet calm, inspiring and polite".The council said it would work with the club to arrange a celebration to present Howe with his award.The status is ceremonial and sees recipients presented with a scroll and their name carved into the sandstone wall of the Civic Centre's Banqueting Hall.It is not the same as being a hereditary Freeman of Newcastle, a centuries-old group whose members must swear an oath to defend the city and have traditionally had special rights and duties – including the right to graze cattle on the Town Moor.
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