Islington Council held a special meeting to award the Freedom of the Borough to Arsenal Women's Football Club in recognition of their UEFA Women's Champions League win in 2024-25. The motion was proposed, seconded, and then supported by several councillors, before being passed unanimously. Representatives from Arsenal Women's Football Club attended the meeting to accept the award.

Freedom of the Borough Award

The main item of business was the presentation of the Freedom of the Borough to Arsenal Women's Football Club. Councillor Una O'Halloran, Leader of the Council, moved the motion, which was seconded by Councillor Santiago Bell-Bradford, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Inclusive Economy, Culture & Jobs.

The agenda frontsheet stated that the award is made under Section 249 of the Local Government Act 1972, and may be awarded to persons of distinction and persons who have, in the opinion of the authority, rendered eminent services to the borough.

Councillor Bell-Bradford spoke of the importance of recognising the achievements of the team, and what Arsenal has done for the women's game, not just this year, but over the last 20 years to make it a world leader in women's football. He said:

It's about recognition that when Arsenal wins, Islington wins. And it's about recognition that when the women's team succeed on this scale, that our Islington residents can look at each other and say, we've done something. It's a collective effort.

Councillor Dr Sara Hyde, Executive Member for Health and Social Care, spoke of her personal connection to football and the importance of celebrating women in the sport. She highlighted the team's achievements, including being named as the Ballon d'Or team and being the only English club to have won the Europa League Cup twice. She also noted that 56% of participants in local football activities run by the Islington Development Partnership, GLL¹ and Arsenal in the community are women and girls. Councillor Valerie Bossman-Quarshie celebrated the team's spirit and impact, saying that Arsenal Women's success has resonated as far as Ghana. Councillor Gary Heather recalled his long-standing support for Arsenal, and noted that the women's team had achieved something the men's team had not, by winning the Champions League. He also pointed out that the women's team had a record of seven seasons without losing a game in the league, compared to the men's team's one season as the Invincibles . Councillor Gulcin Ozdemir, Chair of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee, spoke of the team's inspiration to the next generation and the pride they brought to Arsenal supporters.

Josh Kroenke signed the Roll of Honorary Freepersons on behalf of the Arsenal Women's Team 2024/25. Councillor Jason Jackson, Mayor, presented a framed Freedom Scroll to Richard Garlick, who accepted the scroll and expressed the club's thanks.

The minutes of proceedings record that the motion was then:

RESOLVED: That, by virtue of the power vested in it by Section 249 of the Local Government Act 1972, the Council does admit the Arsenal Women's Team 2024/25, as Honorary Freepersons of the London Borough of Islington in recognition of their achievement for winning the UEFA Women's Champions League again in 2024/25 and inspiring future generations of young people in the borough.