The achievements of two former footballers who represented their country in the sport have been honoured with a place in the Sporting Hall of Fame.
During their respective sporting careers, the late Freddie Steele and Kerry Davies both played for the England national team. At club level, Freddie played for both Stoke City FC and Port Vale FC while Kerry Davis made her debut for the Crewe Alexandra Ladies team in 1985.
Freddie, who was born in Hanley, played 224 games for Stoke City and scored 140 goals between 1933 and 1949. Kerry, who was born in Hanley and raised in Sneyd Green, played for the Lionesses for 16 years where she gained 82 England caps and scored 44 goals between 1982 and 1998.
Now Freddie and Kerry have had their names added to prestigious list of individuals who have exhibited exceptional levels of commitment, passion and dedication to their sport.
They have become the 35th and 36th sportspeople to be inducted into the Stoke-on-Trent Sporting Hall of Fame following a special ceremony at the Civic Centre, in Stoke, yesterday (Monday 11 March).
Freddie Steele’s grandson, Mark Steele, said: “This is a great honour to Freddie, my grandad, to be inducted into the Sporting Hall of Fame. He is the second member of our family to be included as David Steele is Freddie’s nephew. So I’d like to say thank you to the Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent for recognising the contribution of Freddie and Kerry.”
Kerry Davis said: “I would like to say thank you to Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Stoke-on-Trent, the city of my birth, for recognising my achievements and thank you to my family for supporting me. It’s great to see my name there.”
The Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent, Councillor Majid Khan, who officially unveiled the new additions to the honours board, said: “Freddie Steele and Kerry Davis have not only exemplified exceptional skills and dedication throughout their illustrious careers but have also left a mark on the world of sport.
“Their achievements, both on and off the pitch, serve as an inspiration to aspiring athletes and enthusiasts alike and it is an honour to be able to mark their contributions and celebrate their legacy with a place in the Stoke-on-Trent Sporting Hall of Fame.”
Football legend Sir Stanley Matthews and 15-time world darts champion Phil Taylor were the first inductees to the Sporting Hall of Fame in January 2010.
It now includes sporting legends from a wide range of disciplines including:
Phil Taylor (darts)
Sir Stanley Matthews CBE (football)
Gordon Banks OBE (football)
Roy Sproson (football)
David Steele (cricket)
Angela Smith (squash)
Imran Sherwani (hockey)
Les West (cycling)
Roy Swinnerton (cycling)
Bob Taylor (cricket)
Tommy Godwin (cycling)
John Rudge (football)
Neil Franklin (football)
Colin Askey (football)
Denis Smith (football)
Joe Deakin (athletics)
Tut Whalley (boxing)
Chris Edwards (boxing)
Jenny Booth (swimming)
Dennis Wilshaw (football)
Tony Waddington (football)
Robbie Earle (football)
Eddie Hall (World’s strongest man)
Mark Bright (football)
Roy Price (bowls)
Tom Pope (football)
Jasmin Sawyers (athletics)
Ben Williams (athletics)
Ashleigh Nelson (athletics)
Ian Marsden (paracanoeing)
Sir Lee Pearson CBE (para-equestrian)
Stoke City Football Club – 1972 League Winning Cup Squad
Joe Clarke MBE (canoeing) and
Frank Soo (football)
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