North Yorkshire Council snubs Harrogate’s bid to recognise Rachel DalyCouncillors recommend civic honour for Harrogate’s Rachel Daly

Councillors today voted to recommend awarding a civic honour to Harrogate-born England footballer Rachel Daly.

Rachel’s first club — Killinghall Nomads Junior Football Club — launched a petition this year in conjunction with the Stray Ferret calling on North Yorkshire Council to officially recognise their former player.

The council has done nothing to mark Rachel’s achievements, which include winning Euro 2022, playing in the World Cup final and winning the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award this year.

The petition received more than the required 500 signatures to make it eligible for debate at the council’s Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency committee, which met today.

The petition was introduced by John Plummer, the editor of the Stray Ferret, who said:

“It’s difficult to think of anyone in North Yorkshire who has achieved more in recent years or done more to put Harrogate on the map.

“It is time for the council to wake up and realise Rachel Daly is a local superstar who should be celebrated — and honour our home-grown Lioness.”

Mr Plummer said it was “inconceivable that the council would not be falling over backwards to honour, say, Harry Kane if he was from Harrogate”, and it would “raise uncomfortable questions about the council, whose ruling executive is 80% male” if it denied recognition for Rachel, particularly as councillors had set a precedent by renaming Ripon leisure centre after Olympic diving champion Jack Laugher, who grew up in the city.

Rachel Daly on the pitch named after her.

Rachel Daly on the pitch named after her at Killinghall Moor Community Park.

The petition suggested renaming Harrogate Leisure and Wellness Centre but Mr Plummer said the council was welcome to come up with an alternative “but it has to be meaningful and on a scale befitting her accomplishments”.

Cllr Michael Schofield, an Independent who represents Harlow and St George’s, said he had spoken to Rachel, who used to visit the Shepherd’s Dog pub he runs, and she had indicated that although she appreciated the support she didn’t feel naming the leisure centre after her was appropriate.

Cllr Paul Haslam, a Conservative who represents Bilton and Nidd Gorge, said he felt others, including Harrogate’s Paralympic powerlifter Charlotte McGuinness, had an equal right to be recognised.

The council currently has nothing in place for bestowing civic honours.

The 13-person Liberal Democrat-controlled committee voted in favour of recommending the council “develops a civic honours-type scheme for the council and that Rachel Daly’s achievements are recognised through the new scheme”.

Cllr Peter Lacey, a Liberal Democrat who represents Coppice Valley and Duchy, said he hoped the matter could be dealt with swiftly.

Area constituency committees are advisory bodies to the council. It is now up to the council’s Conservative-controlled executive to decide whether to act on its recommendations.

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Harrogate’s Rachel Daly ranked 10th best player in world

Harrogate-born Rachel Daly finished 10th last night at the prestigious Ballon d’Or awards in Paris.

The Aston Villa striker was one of two England Lionesses to make the top 10.  Manchester United goalkeeper Mary Earps was fifth.

Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmati, who helped her side defeat England in the World Cup final, was first.

Former Rossett School pupil Daly was top scorer in the Women’s Super League last season and named PFA Players’ Player of the Year.

She was also a member of the England side that won the 2022 European Championships.

Daly’s astonishing achievements have yet to impress North Yorkshire Council, which continues to ignore a petition by Killinghall Nomads Junior Football Club — the club where she started her career — calling for a civic honour. The Stray Ferret is supporting the appeal.

None of the four England players on the 30-strong shortlist were able to attend the ceremony because they are international duty. England play Belgium in the National League tonight.

The top 30 was decided by the votes of 100 journalists, who come from the countries which make up the top 100 of the FIFA rankings.

Argentina’s Lionel Messi beat Erling Haaland for the men’s award.

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GALLERY: Rachel Daly returns to Harrogate’s Rossett School

England footballer Rachel Daly returned to Rossett School in Harrogate today to rename a 3G sports pitch in her honour.

Rossett’s most famous former student brought the place to a standstill as pupils and teachers turned out to cheer her.

Headteacher Tim Milburn greeted the Aston Villa striker at 10am before she was whisked away to meet staff and tour the building.

When she re-emerged about half an hour later, pupils formed a guard of honour as she walked from the school buildings, accompanied by her dog Dexy, to the pitch.

When they got there, Rachel — wearing white trainers and clothes by her street fashion brand sponsor Hera — joked about how much Dexy loved the attention and thought it was for her.

Dexy was certainly a hit but Rachel, who was accompanied by her family, was the undoubted star on a rare return to the school she left in 2010.

After a short speech from Mr Milburn, Rachel removed a black blanket to reveal a sign for the newly named Rachel Daly 3G Pitch. Behind her, a group of girls played football on the pitch. She said:

“It’s an honour for me to be here and have this named after me.

“It’s great seeing the young girls out here today and having them on a pitch that’s named after me. It’s a feeling I don’t think I’ll ever get used to.”

Rachel, the current PFA Players’ Player of the Year, spoke about coming home with sand burns after playing on the old astroturf pitch and how Rossett and Harrogate held a “special place in my heart”.

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Mr Milburn described Rachel, who started out at Killinghall Nomads Junior Football Club, as an inspiration not only for Rossett pupils but also for anyone who uses the sports facilities. He added:

“She’s not just a Rossett hero, or a Killinghall hero, she’s a town hero. Why wouldn’t we want to honour her?”

Although the school has been quick to honour Rachel, North Yorkshire Council has yet to indicate whether it will support a call from Killinghall Nomads, supported by the Stray Ferret, for Rachel to receive civic recognition.

The Conservative-controlled council said two months ago it was urgently considering a policy on how to recognise achievements by local people.

The Stray Ferret asked Cllr Simon Myers, whose portfolio oversees such matters, what progress had been made since then but has not received a response.

Here are some images from Rachel’s return to Rossett today.

Headteacher Tim Milburn welcomes Rachel Daly to the school.

Pupils form a guard of honour.

Dexy the dog was never far from Rachel’s side.

Rachel Daly, alongside the Rachel Daly 3G Pitch.

The Rossett Lioness and the sign she unveiled.

Current Rossett footballers look on as Rachel talks to her family.

 

With current footballers on the 3G pitch.

 

Dexy takes centre stage again.

Petition launched calling for Harrogate to honour Rachel Daly

A petition has been launched today calling for the council to honour Harrogate’s England Lioness, Rachel Daly.

Daly is part of the England team that will be taking on Spain in tomorrow’s Women’s World Cup final.

She has already won the European Championships and this season’s Golden Boot for being the Women’s Super League leading scorer — yet her achievements have been completely overlooked by the council.

Killinghall Nomads Junior Football Club yesterday called for that to change and has today launched a petition. It can be signed here.

The petition calls on North Yorkshire Council to recognise Daly’s achievements, preferably by renaming Harrogate Hydro, which is due to re-open next month, the Rachel Daly Leisure and Wellness Centre — and the Stray Ferret is backing the club’s call.

Daly has liked a post on the club’s Instagram account about the story. So has comedian Maisie Adam, who also hails from Harrogate.

Daly with Killinghall Nomads players when she visited in May.

North Yorkshire Council is keen to promote community fitness at its leisure centres and the Hydro is close to the Killinghall Nomads grounds where Daly started her career and hundreds of boys and girls get active each week.

Mary Beggs-Reid, the club’s media manager, said:

“We urge everyone to sign this petition as it’s high time the council recognised Rachel.”

If the petition attracts 500 signatures it will be discussed by the council’s Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency committee.

Cllr Carl Les, the Conservative leader of North Yorkshire Council, said it sent best wishes to Daly and the other Lionesses, adding:

“Regarding any local honour for Rachel, as a new council we will consider a policy for how we might recognise the achievements of local people.”

To sign the petition, click here.

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Stray Ferret backs Killinghall Nomads campaign for Harrogate to honour Rachel Daly

Killinghall Nomads Junior Football Club has called for the council to honour former player Rachel Daly.

Harrogate-born Rachel is a key part of the England team that has reached Sunday’s Women’s World Cup final against Spain.

She was also part of the Lionesses side that won the European Championships last summer, and won the Golden Boot for being the Women’s Super League top scorer this year.

Her achievements were completely overlooked by Harrogate Borough Council, which was abolished at the end of March.

The Killinghall club has now called for the new North Yorkshire Council to put that right, preferably by renaming Harrogate Hydro, which is due to reopen next month, as the Rachel Daly Leisure and Wellness Centre.

Mary Beggs-Reid, the club’s media manager, said:

“After all Rachel has achieved, surely the council can name something after her.

“She’s inspired a nation – surely as a town we should honour her?

“The club and town are special to her. We need to show her how special she is to us.”

Rachel Daly Killinghall Nomads

A huge crowd greeted Daly when she returned to open the club cafe in May.

The Hydro is due to reopen as the Harrogate Leisure and Wellness Centre. But Harrogate Borough Council set a precedent by renaming Ripon Leisure Centre the Jack Laugher Leisure and Wellness Centre in honour of the Ripon diver’s achievements, including an Olympic gold medal.

Killinghall Nomads want the new council to do similar by renaming the Hydro — which is close to the club’s grounds — after the local superstar.

Daly returned to Killinghall Nomads in May to officially open the Nomads Daly Brew Cafe , which was named after her.

But the club feels it’s time for the council to step-up — and the Stray Ferret agrees.

We are therefore backing the campaign and have asked North Yorkshire Council whether it will support the call to honour Daly — preferably by naming the Hydro after her.

John Plummer, editor of the Stray Ferret, said:

“It’s great that the council honoured Jack Laugher — there is now an overwhelming case to do the same with Rachel Daly.

“What better way to do this than by renaming the leisure centre, which is close to Killinghall Nomads’ grounds, after a local star who has inspired millions of people to get active?”

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