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23
Aug 2023
Council 'urgently' considers policy on recognising local people
North Yorkshire Council has said it is urgently considering coming up with a policy that recognises local people;
However, it has no said whether it will rename Harrogate Hydro as the Rachel Daly Leisure and Wellness Centre.
The Hydro is due to reopen on September 4 following a £13.5 million refurbishment as Harrogate Leisure and Wellness Centre.
But Killinghall Nomads Junior Football Club is campaigning for it to be named after their former player and England star.
The council-owned leisure centre in Ripon set a precedent when it was renamed after Olympic diving champion Jack Laugher.
Daly, who has 428,000 Instagram followers, was part of England's Euro 2022 winning team last year. This year she has won the Golden Boot for being the top goalscorer in the Women's Super League and played in the Women's World Cup final. She is also on the shortlist for the PFA Player's Player of the Year award.
The former Rossett School pupil has retained close links with Killinghall Nomads, whose ground is close to the Hydro, and even sent a message to the club on the eve of the World Cup final.
Read more:
- Petition launched calling for Harrogate to honour Rachel Daly
- World Cup hero Rachel Daly in line for player of year award
The Stray Ferret is supporting the club's campaign calling for the council to honour Daly. You can sign the petition here.
North Yorkshire Council leader Carl Les said last week the council "will consider a policy for how we might recognise the achievements of local people".
We subsequently asked whether the council had any plans to consider naming the Hydro after Daly before it reopens in less than two weeks.
A council spokesman said today:
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