Councillors celebrate Arsenal’s European joy – topped with the ‘freedom of the borough’

EVERYBODY seems to be talking about Arsenal right now after the men’s team beat Spurs in the north London derby and then German maestros Bayern Munich.

But let’s not forget, it’s the women’s team that have filled the trophy cabinet with silverware.

And now the champions of Europe have been recognised for their success with the highest honour a local authority can give.

Islington Council granted the team the Freedom of the Borough at a special ceremony on Friday afternoon. Manager Renée Slegers and captain Kim Little brought the Champions League trophy to the Town Hall for the occasion. It was clinched with victory against Barcelona in the final in May.

They are the only English club to have lifted the continent’s biggest prize and have done it not just once, but twice.

Renée Slegers and captain Kim Little with Islington’s crown jewels

The Arsenal team that won it in 2007 were given the same honour by the council.

Ms Slegers told the Tribune it was “very special” to receive the Freedom of the Borough – a ceremonial recognition which does not grant any special rights to recipients.

“We feel so connected to the community,” she said, adding: “Here again, you can see and feel what it means. So we’re both reliving the moment of winning the Champions League and understanding what it means to so many people. The community is so important – that’s where it all started. So it’s a special moment.”

In the chamber, councillors draped in red and white scarves spoke to praise the team and share the significance of their win for Islington.

Cllr Sara Hyde said: “For me, this is really personal. I grew up in a football-loving household, because there was no one that loved football more than my mum.

Cllr O’Halloran, Mayor Jackson, Co-chair of Arsenal Josh Kroenke, and CEO Richard Garlick mark the unveiling of the team’s name in the Council Chamber

“It was my mum who literally took a radio to a wedding one Saturday in May because her team were in the cup final, and had it under the table trying to listen to what was happening in the match. So it’s such a pleasure for that reason to be here today, not only celebrating women enjoying and watching football, but celebrating women playing football, and our local women’s team playing to such a high standard that you’re just smashing records left, right and centre.”

Cllr Valerie Bossman-Quarshie added: “You have shown us all that dreams can come true.”

The Freedom of the Borough is given to individu­als who have made outstanding contributions to the community.

The UK’s first black headteacher, Yvonne Conolly, is among previous recipients in Islington.