New honour for Wolves

WARRINGTON Wolves’ RL team have been made honorary citizens of the borough, in recognition of their back-to-back Challenge Cup triumphs.
Four first team players, club chairman Steven Broomhead and chief executive Andy Gatcliffe visited the Town Hall for the ceremony, presided over by Mayor John Joyce.
The four players were captain Adrian Morley and Matt King, Lee Briers and Jon Clarke and also present were leader of the council Ian Marks and the Burgermeister of Warrington’s German twin town, Hilden.
Outstanding work in the local community, particularly with young people via the club’s charitable arm, the Wolves Foundation, was also recognised.
Cllr Marks said: “Winning the Challenge Cup twice has been a tremendous boost for Warrington. It’s great for morale and makes our residents feel good about our town.
“As a council we were delighted to organise homecoming events for the team, the sight of tens of the thousands who turned out on both days was breathtaking and testimony to the regard in which the team is held by the town and that is why we are here today.”
The Mayor added: “This is an honour very few people will get and the team thoroughly deserves it. They are a great credit to the town and it was my great pleasure to award this title to the Wolves for all they have achieved for their club and for the borough of Warrington.”
Mr Gatcliffe said: “It is a great honour for the team and club to be awarded this title, and we thank the council for this recognition. We have all been part of the recent successes with the team bringing home the Carnegie Challenge Cup for the past two years. Under Tony Smith’s leadership we are a club that entertains the fans with exciting on-field performances, having a really first class playing squad growing in confidence.
“Warrington Wolves is a club with a great future in Rugby Super League, having an ‘envied’ top quality template stadium providing sport, health and education which really does benefit the borough-wide community. Our loyal fans are a real asset to the club and on behalf of everyone within the club I want to acknowledge the support given as this makes us into the winning team we are today.”
After the ceremony, Adrian Morley said: “It’s absolutely incredible to be recognised by the council for the achievements we’ve had in Rugby League. We know what it means to the people of Warrington to win things, it gives them a sense of pride and the council realise that. For the club to have been given this honorary citizenship is an absolute honour and something we are very, very proud of and very thankful for.”
It was only the fifth time honorary citizenship has been awarded by the council.
Pictured: the four Wolves’ players with the Mayor and Mayoress.