Football legend Kevin Ball and veteran charity founder set to be nominated for Freedom of Sunderland

At its meeting next week on Thursday, March 14, Sunderland City Council’s Cabinet will consider recommending the nominations to a future full council meeting for agreement

It appears that a seasoned charity founder and a Sunderland AFC legend will be considered for the Freedom of Sunderland award.

Sunderland City Council has the authority to grant Freedoms to individuals who’significantly contribute to the wellbeing and community spirit of Sunderland.’ This is an established custom that dates back to 1901 in the borough. Lionesses Jill Scott and Steph Houghton, as well as Trevor Mann, Nissan’s chief performance officer, are among the individuals who will be granted freedom.

And this year the nominations look set to include Sunderland AFC’s Kevin Ball, who has been involved with the club for more than 30 years, and ex-serviceman Gerard ‘Ger’ Fowler for his work with the Sunderland Armed Forces Partnership and for founding Veterans in Crisis (VICs).

Ger is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Sunderland. He has won numerous awards for services to veterans including an English Veterans Award for Leader of the Year.

At its meeting next week on Thursday, March 14, Sunderland City Council’s Cabinet will consider recommending the nominations to a future full council meeting for agreement. Subject to the meetings, further arrangements on a Freedom ceremony will be announced in due course.

Leader of Sunderland City Council, councillor Graeme Miller said: “People across Sunderland are very proud of their football club and Kevin has been an extraordinary ambassador and part of the fabric of SAFC for many years. Similarly, residents are proud of their links to the Armed Forces and Ger has worked and continues to work and help veterans and their families.

“These are well deserved nominations because they have both contributed so much to the wellbeing and community spirit of Sunderland, and so we plan to recognise them and show our respect for their many achievements.”

The cabinet meeting will also consider plans to appoint two long-standing former councillors as an Honorary Alderman and an Honorary Alderwoman – Peter Wood and Louise Farthing. The proposal is to recognise their long and distinguished service to residents, the council and the City of Sunderland.

The council has a tradition of nominating residents, groups and organisation for freedoms. In 2023, footballing champions Jill Scott and Steph Houghton, and Gary Bennett were recognised. In 2022, the Sunderland 1973 FA Cup Squad were granted the Freedom of the City for their ongoing achievement and contribution to the city’s well-being.

Other freedoms of Sunderland include the late John Hays, founder of Hays Travel; Nissan’s chief performance officer Trevor Mann; Niall Quinn MBE and Joël Batteux the Mayor of Sunderland’s twin-town St Nazaire. Television reporter Kate Adie has also been granted Freedom of the City.

4 Regiment Royal Artillery – the ‘North East gunners’, 3 Rifles and the crew of HMS Ocean, which was Sunderland’s adopted warship and the Royal Navy’s largest ship for many years, have also received freedoms.