Council calls for knighthood for Kenny Dalglish and praises Hillsborough families

Published: 12 May 2016

Glasgow City Council has called for a knighthood for one of the city's most famous footballers, Kenny Dalglish, in recognition of the role he has played in responding to the Hillsborough Disaster.

It came as the council agreed a motion praising the families of the victims for their campaign for justice, the people of Liverpool for the support they have given the families, and Kenny Dalglish for playing a critical role in supporting the campaign for truth and justice.

Councillor Frank McAveety, Leader of Glasgow City Council, said: "Kenny Dalglish is a legend of world football and is quite rightly held in the highest esteem in Glasgow, Liverpool and across the globe.  However, the Hillsborough Disaster transcended sport, and Kenny has played a central role with victims' families in their quest for truth and justice.  We believe that a knighthood would be a fitting recognition of this, as well as his services to the Beautiful Game."

Kenny Dalglish spent a celebrated playing career with Celtic, Liverpool and Scotland, becoming the Liverpool player-manager in 1985, a position he held until 1991.  His support of the families of the people who lost their lives at Hillsborough in the aftermath of the Disaster was universally praised.

The council motion, proposed by Councillor Archie Graham, Depute Leader of the Council, said: "The council welcomes the findings of the Hillsborough Inquest, which concluded the 96 football supporters who lost their lives at Hillsborough were unlawfully killed; recognises this as a monumental step in achieving justice for the victims; congratulates the Hillsborough families for their tireless campaign, the people of Liverpool for the support they have given the families and pays tribute to Glasgow's Kenny Dalglish who stood shoulder to shoulder with the people of Liverpool and played a critical role in supporting the campaign for truth and justice."

Kenny Dalglish was given the Freedom of the City of Glasgow in 1986.