Football star Law is granted freedom of home city

FORMER Scotland and Manchester United legend Denis Law has been granted the freedom of his home city of Aberdeen.

Law’s honour, which is set to be formally confirmed in vote by the city’s councillors on Wednesday, comes little more than a year after he was awarded a CBE by the Queen.

The fisherman’s son grew up in a council flat in the city’s Printfield Terrace and was known as the “Law Man” in football. He scored 30 goals in 55 Scotland internationals, a record he holds jointly with Kenny Dalglish.

Law also netted 237 times in 404 appearances at Old Trafford and helped the Red Devils win the First Division in 1965 and 1967.

The Denis Law Legacy Trust Streetsport initiative has also helped thousands of disadvantaged youngsters in the Granite City.

A council spokesman said: “Denis is rightly known across the world for his footballing exploits. He is equally well regarded for how he has helped so many people back here in the city where he grew up.”

Law recently unveiled a statue of himself at Aberdeen Sports Village and launched a council initiative to remove “No Ball Games” signs from the city.

The striker, who did not receive his first pair of football boots until he was a teenager, once said: “My young life revolved around playing football. There was no television then and people lived by their radio sets.

“All the kids did was play in the streets. You kicked a ball against the wall all the way to school, then you had a game when you got there.

“At mid-morning break, you had another game and you kicked a ball home at lunchtime and so it went on. It was a massive part of my life.”

He said because he could not wear glasses he learned to play with with one eye closed.