Freedom of the City?

[ramAnag]

It’s always seemed a bit daft and meaningless to me at the best of times, but it seems the council is to debate giving Wayne Rooney the honour of the Freedom of the City of Derby.
As far as I’m aware Reg Harrison, Brian Clough and Adam Peaty are previous recipients - yes that Adam Peaty, who comes from Uttoxeter, trained at Repton and Loughborough and supports Forest - and now maybe Rooney for his ‘service to the City’.

All quite harmless I suppose, if you’re into celebrating the ‘relief from serfdom’ that I believe it represents, but ‘service to the City’?
Wayne Rooney has done a good job and I very much hope he stays, but he’s also been very well remunerated and didn’t actually keep us up. Surely, if we must indulge in such medieval practices, it would make more sense to wait until he’s truly achieved something before considering granting him the right to drive his sheep down Brian Clough Way or whatever else such beneficiaries are entitled to do.

Thoughts?

[Ramshank72]

I find it embarrassing. Perhaps there's a checklist of requirements somewhere, and he ticks all the boxes, whatever they are. He manages a football club, that got relegated. He's shown enough determination and effort... but how can his efforts be on par with with the greats of this club, or those who serve the city so well outside of football?
I think it's a generational thing, the current generation have seen no success and so Rooney seems like a god because, it's Rooney.

[ramAnag]

I find it embarrassing. Perhaps there's a checklist of requirements somewhere, and he ticks all the boxes, whatever they are. He manages a football club, that got relegated. He's shown enough determination and effort... but how can his efforts be on par with with the greats of this club, or those who serve the city so well outside of football?
I think it's a generational thing, the current generation have seen no success and so Rooney seems like a god because, it's Rooney.

Agreed, Ramshank. Not even sure why they’ve announced that they’re debating it. Places everyone in an invidious position.

[swaledale]

Thats a load of *******s! If he gets promotion next season, then maybe there is a case. At the moment, it seems to me he is in a win win situation, he gets paid handsomely to do a job he wants to do, no pressure this season none of whats happened is Wayne's fault so next season is going to be the test.

[ramAnag]

Well he’s been awarded it. Unanimous decision apparently.
No disrespect to WR but daft and embarrassing imo. Time debating would have been better spent on removing MM’s CBE...again imo.

[MadAmster]

Well he’s been awarded it. Unanimous decision apparently.
No disrespect to WR but daft and embarrassing imo. Time debating would have been better spent on removing MM’s CBE...again imo.

Removing MM's CBE is not in the power of the council......

[ramAnag]

Removing MM's CBE is not in the power of the council......

Lol...I know, but their time would have been better spent debating and recommending that. What was it for anyway? Hopefully not services to the community!

[Geoff Parkstone]

would be great if we could unhonour random people in this way just because they fall out of favour - Morris, Saville, Blair etc - they managed it for Fred Goodwin, Stuart Hall and Prince Naseem but they transgressed the law. Should we petition the Honours Forfeiture Committee? I wonder how?

[Geoff Parkstone]

Lol...I know, but their time would have been better spent debating and recommending that. What was it for anyway? Hopefully not services to the community!

services to (his) busness and charity I believe

[Trickytreesreds]

Giving a Scouser freedom of your city? I hope your home insurance is up to date?