‘Watch this space’: Call for Wakefield Trinity owner Matt Ellis and head coach Daryl Powell to be awarded Freedom of the City
A councillor has called for Wakefield Trinity’s owner Matt Ellis and head coach Daryl Powell to be awarded the Freedom of the City following the club’s historic Super League Grand Final victory.
The request was made at the first full council meeting since Trinity lifted the trophy for the first time after beating Warrington Wolves 23-10 at Old Trafford on October 3.
The following day, around 30,000 attended an open-top bus parade through the city from Belle Vue to Wakefield Town Hall, where the club’s players and staff received a civic reception.
Nick Farmer, independent councillor for Ossett, told the meeting on Wednesday (October 14): “To attend the final last weekend was one of the finest sporting moments I have been to.
“It was fantastic to see so many people from Wakefield supporting the city.
“I have seen numerous people given numerous accolades in this country, people who, in my opinion, don’t deserve it.
“There are two people who deserve an accolade in this city and that’s Matt Ellis and Daryl Powell.
“I suggest that we, as a council, put forward that Daryl Powell and Matt Ellis are given the freedom of this city.”
In response, council leader Karl Johnson said: “I think there is a simple answer to that, which is just watch this space.”
Earlier in the meeting Coun Johnson described the club’s victory as “phenomenal.”
He said: “I think as a district we should be very proud of their achievements.
“To win the Super League in the way they did, and to beat Wigan before that, is just a credit to the district and one of the greatest sporting achievements our city has ever seen.
“It was just an amazing day, which was followed by a super reception and a fan event where we had up to 30,000 people in our city centre, going into businesses and making it a really economically bright that day.”
The last person to be awarded the Freedom of Wakefield was ex-professional football player and Sky Sports pundit ChrisKamara, in May 2024, in recognition of his services to charity and the city.
Freedom of the City is the highest honour Wakefield Council can give to an individual or organisation that has served in an “exceptional capacity.”
It is a ceremonial recognition of their role and the contribution they have made.
Previous recipients of the honour include former chairman of the Rugby Football League Sir Rodney Walker, Wakefield Trinity legend Neil FoxMBE and The 3rd Battalion The Rifles Regiment.