ENGLAND manager Gareth Southgate has been given the Freedom of Middlesborough - but who has been given that honour in Flintshire and Wrexham?

In Wrexham and Flintshire, Freedom of the Borough has been given to military regiments.

In Wrexham, Royal Welch Fusiliers, 101 Force Support Battalion, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, and The Welsh Guards have all been given Freedom of the Borough.

In Flintshire, the honour was bestowed on The Royal Welsh in 2009.

Thomas Bury, town clerk between 1879 and 1906, was the first person to receive honorary Freedom of the Borough of Wrexham.

Freedom of the Borough was granted to the Royal Welch Fusiliers in 1946 due to the regiment's long association with the town.

More recently, double Olympic gold medallist rower Tom James was granted the freedom of Wrexham Borough in recognition of his achievement at the London 2012 and Beijing 2008 Games.

Fellow Wrexham Olympic rowers Chris Bartley Victoria Thornley were honoured at the meeting when Tom was given the Freedom of the Borough.

Thornley also competed at the Olympics in Tokyo.

In 2020, a petition was launched to bestow the Freedom of Flintshire on the Cambria Band.

Many would consider double Olympic gold winning athlete Jade Jones, from Flint, to be a suitable recipient of the honour in Flintshire.

This week, councillors have agreed to give England manager Gareth Southgate the Freedom of Middlesbrough in recognition of the “joy” spread by his team.

The 50-year-old former Boro captain and manager was taken to the hearts of Teessiders, winning the only trophy in its history when he was skipper.

He has been praised for his leadership of the England team both on the pitch – taking them to the final of the Euros for the first time – and off it, with his stance against racism.

He was captain of Middlesbrough when they won the League Cup in 2004.

At a full council meeting this week, councillors agreed to bestow him with the honour, agreeing with a resolution which said: “After some of the most difficult and tragic 18 months this country has faced, this England football team led by Gareth Southgate has given everyone some much needed hope and joy.

“In difficult times, Gareth Southgate has united England with his unifying presence, leadership and quiet charisma.

“As a former captain and manager of Middlesbrough Football Club, Gareth has a unique connection with our town.

“This council believes it is fitting to award him the Freedom of the Borough.”

Southgate, born in Watford growing up in West Sussex, now lives in Harrogate, North Yorkshire.