Ealing Council is nominating England star and Women’s European Championship 2022 winner Chloe Kelly for Freedom of the Borough, following her fantastic performances in the tournament and winning goal in the final.
Chloe, who grew up in Ealing and attended Elthorne Park High School as a pupil, struck the winning goal in extra time in the final against fierce rivals Germany, sparking elation across the country.
Chloe’s winning goal was especially dramatic because she had come on as a substitute and the game had reached the closing minutes of the second half of extra time after a keenly contested battle against the Germans, who had won the Euros eight times before.
England had taken the lead in the 62nd minute when fellow substitute Ella Toone lofted a superb shot past the keeper on the break. Germany then equalised 17 minutes later, and took the game to extra time. Without Chloe’s late goal, the nail-biting lottery of penalty kicks would have followed just minutes later.
The 2-1 victory was watched by a record crowd of 87,192 at Wembley and more than 17 million watched on TV, and made history as the first win for England at a major women’s tournament. It was also the first time an England team had lifted a major trophy at senior level since 1966.
Chloe’s fantastic story is something that everyone across Ealing can be proud of and nomination for Freedom of the Borough serves to highlight her achievements on the international stage.
Earlier this year fellow England star Bukayo Saka accepted the same accolade from council leader Peter Mason and to have two young stars hitting such heights is something that can only serve as an inspiration to people of all ages across the borough playing sport.
Councillor Mason said: “Chloe and the rest of the women’s England team, brought football home and now we would like to celebrate her achievements in her family home of Ealing by offering Freedom of the Borough.”
Councillor Deirdre Costigan, deputy leader of the council, added: “We are so proud of Chloe. We would like to offer her Freedom of the Borough for her amazing achievements and I will be recommending this happens as soon as possible.
“History has been made and we want to see many more young people achieve sporting greatness like Chloe.”
Photo by Jonathan Brady, copyright of PA Images.
