Local basketball hero given top civic honour
Gary Forster/Newcastle EaglesA basketball player who helped make the Newcastle Eagles the most successful team in British history will be awarded the city's highest honour.
Darius Defoe is to be granted the Honorary Freedom of Newcastle by the council in recognition of two decades of achievements on and off the court.
The 6ft 8in-tall (2m) forward recently announced his retirement after 22 seasons with the Eagles, during which time he earned the nickname "Mr 28" because of his involvement in all 28 of the club's major title wins.
Defoe said the "love and support I've received from the Geordie people throughout my career has meant everything".
Newcastle City Council's Liberal Democrat leader Colin Ferguson said the 41-year-old's achievements had "brought pride, recognition, and prestige to Newcastle".
According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Ferguson told a full-council meeting this week Defoe had served as a role model "to countless young people across Newcastle and the wider North East".
"His impact can be measured not only in silverware won, but in lives influenced, ambitions nurtured, and opportunities created for young people across our region."
'Incredibly special'
Born in Dominica and raised in London, Defoe came to Tyneside in 2004 when he joined the Eagles from the Hackney White Heat.
He went on to play a key role in a period success for the Eagles, from their first trophy win in 2005 through to their 28th in the Super League Basketball Trophy final last year.
He said on Thursday it was "incredibly special" to be honoured with the Freedom of the City, a title also given to Newcastle sporting greats including Sir Bobby Robson, Alan Shearer and Sir Brendan Foster.
He said: "The love and support I've received from the Geordie people throughout my career has meant everything to me.
"I'm proud of everything my teammates and I achieved together on the court at Newcastle Eagles through the years, but I'm equally proud of the work we've done in the community.
"If I've been able to inspire young people across the North East to believe in themselves and work hard to achieve their goals, then that's a legacy I will always be proud of."
