HEROES Hall of Fame can serve as an inspiration for youths
The inductees celebrate
North Lanarkshire opened Scotland’s first regionwide sports Hall of Fame on Monday.
Sporting stars from across the local autjhority area descended on Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility for the unveiling of plaques and a presentation.
Among the greats honoured were Wishaw Wizard John Higgins, Motherwell duo Jonathan Paterson and David Crabb and Craigneuk’s Tommy Gemmell as part of the Lisbon Lions team.
After public consultation, the council sat down to wade through the nomination and landed on an illustrious 12 choices for the class of 2017.
Higgins, Paterson, Crabb and the Lions were joined by world champion boxer Ricky Burns, Coatbridge’s Renwicks sisters, Sir Matt Busby, Sandy Jones, Bundhi Kunderan, Lynn McCafferty, Tom McKean and Angela Robertson. Covering nine different sports from handball to judo, the Hall of Fame will continue to build over the next few years and councillor Jim Logue hopes it can serve as an inspiration.
Councillor Jim Logue, the council leader, said: “We were blessed with an abundance of candidates for our inaugural sports Hall of Fame.
“We were inundated with suggestions about possible candidates and the Hall of Fame has really caught the imagination of the people of North Lanarkshire.
“All our inductees are people who have made a huge contribution to sport at the highest level. They inspire us with their dedication and commitment to being the best, sometimes in the face of extreme adversity.
“Their example is worth following, from competitiveness on the world stage to shaping the future of their sport, and from overcoming their own challenges to inspiring generations to participate in sport and exercise. It is fitting that these initial inductees will be recognised in our world- class facility at Ravenscraig.
“My hope is that young people from North Lanarkshire and beyond are inspired by them, not just to participate in sport but to learn the lessons of perseverance and dedication.”