Best home game ever for legendary Lawman
Footballing legend handed keys to Granite City
As home fixtures go, it was one of football hero Denis Law’s finest moments.
The 77-year-old legend was thrilled when he was yesterday handed the keys to Aberdeen, the city where he was born and raised.
Known affectionately as The Lawman, he scored 30 goals for Scotland during a dazzling career that included spells at top clubs such as Manchester United, Torino and Manchester City.
And as he was made a freeman of his beloved Granite City, an honour previously bestowed on Nelson Mandela and Winston Churchill, he beamed: “To get the Freedom of the City of Aberdeen is a real highlight in my life and something I will never forget.
“It was very emotional, looking around the audience and seeing all of our family and people from Aberdeen. It was a proud day for our children and grandchildren.”
The ceremony saw the football star sign the Freedom Roll and have the Burgess Ticket pinned to his hat, a Scotland cap provided by the Scottish Football Association.
A parade down Union Street, led by Law, will take place today when he is expected to greet crowds from the Town House balcony.
Aberdeen Lord Provost Barney Crockett said: “Today’s ceremony was a fantastic occasion to honour a man who put Aberdeen on the world map and who has never forgotten his roots.
“This is the highest honour the city can give and, when you look at the history of it, you see it has gone to world leaders like Winston Churchill and Nelson Mandela, and also people from Aberdeen who have done great things. Denis is a worthy recipient.
“He will always be recognised a hero for his sporting achievements, but Denis is also a charity figurehead and has been a driving force for the efforts of the Denis Law Legacy Trust.”
Law – a former European footballer of the year – was one of Manchester United’s famous “holy trinity” alongside household names George Best and Sir Bobby Charlton.
He scored for Scotland in a famous 3-2 win over world champions England at Wembley in 1967 and rounded off his playing days by representing Scotland at the 1974 World Cup in Germany.