A SPECIAL meeting of Warrington Borough Council will be held next Monday to honour soccer legend Roger Hunt with the freedom of the borough.
Council leader Terry O’Neill will propose the motion that the former World Cup hero be made a Freeman of Warrington and it will be seconded by deputy leader Graham Friend.
It is 50 years since Roger was a member of England’s first and only World Cup winning side.
Earlier this year, he attended an event at the Lymm Hotel to mark 50 years since the Brazilian football team stayed there.
It was there that he met the then Mayor of Warrington, Geoff Settle, who has subsequently been instrumental in the former Liverpool star being nominated for the honour.
Roger Hunt was born in Glazebury and started his footballing career with Stockton Heath – now Warrington Town.
He made his debut for Liverpool in 1959 and went on to play for the club on 492 occasions, scoring 286 goals – a club record at the time. He still holds the record for league goals – 245 from 404 games. He played for England 34 times, scoring three times during the 1966 World Cup campaign.
He retired from football in 1972, remaining in Warrington to run a successful family haulage business. He now lives in Croft and plays an active part in the local community, doing charity work, attending many fundraising events and functions. He was awarded the MBE 16 years ago.
He still takes a keen interest in Warrington Town and joined the players in celebrating their promotion to the Northern Premier League last season.
England World Cup winner Roger Hunt in his Liverpool days – PICTURE EDDIE WHITHAM
