Freedom of the borough for our golden Nicola

GOLDEN girl Nicola meet some of her admirers

OLDHAM'S Olympic golden girl Nicola White is set to receive the freedom of the borough.

The nomination, which is expected to be ratified at Wednesday's council meeting, was announced at a home coming event for the sporting star who won gold with the Great Britain women's hockey team in Rio.

It is supported by the borough's three main political groups and a special ceremony would be held to bestow the honour on the former Hulme Grammar School pupil who also won a bronze at London 2012.

Nicola played a key part in her team' success in Rio, scoring a vital equaliser against the Netherlands in the final to take the game to a penalty shoot-out

It was the country's first Olympic gold in women's hockey and the 28-year-old is Oldham's first gold medallist since swimmer Henry Taylor took triple gold at the London games in 1908.

Nicola, who lives in London, attended a private reception with councillors, officers, MPs and sponsors at the Middleton Road sports centre on Friday before meeting fans who had applied for free tickets to attend.

Announcing the honour, deputy council leader Abdul Jabbar said: "This is an immensely proud moment for Oldham. To have someone from Oldham win a gold medal - that's what dreams are made of."

And he joked: "It means you can play hockey where you want in the borough and graze sheep where you want!"

Nicola will become the 24th freeman of the borough - the first recipient was local benefactor and Oldham's first female mayor, Dame Sarah Lees, in 1909. The most recent was MP Michael Meacher in 2013.

Nicola told the Chronicle that she had had to search for freedom of the borough on Google to find out what it was.

"I am so proud that they think I am worthy of having something like that from Oldham," she added.

She also talked of her pride in representing Oldham and said that it would be great if the borough could get some hockey pitches to encourage more people of all ages to play.

Nicola also answered questions, signed autographs and posed for pictures with fans who had turned out. They included Catherine Taylor from Derker, son Layton (8) and daughter Rhianna (9).

Layton, a huge Olympics fan, stayed up to watch the hockey team win gold and said: "When they won I just jumped up and down and ran around!"

Council leader Jean Stretton who could not attend Friday's event, said: "The performances by the women's hockey team were outstanding - the only team not to lose a match at the games - but it was particularly fantastic for so many local people to be able to cheer Nicola on as 'one of our own'.

"I - as well as many other Oldhamers - was captivated by the efforts of the team and our Nicola.

"It is 108 years since this borough last had an Olympic gold medallist and that deserves to be celebrated.

"Great Britain's Olympians gave our country so much to be proud of in Rio and it's only right for us as a council to honour our very own gold medallist with the highest award we can give."

The freedom of the borough dates back to the middle ages and is the highest award the council can bestow. It is awarded to people who have rendered eminent services to the borough.

A ceremonial role, the recipient does not have any legal rights.