NEWCASTLE civic leaders are proposing to give Jonny Wilkinson the freedom of the city.
The 24-year-old national hero, who has played all his professional rugby union at Newcastle Falcons, will follow Alan Shearer and Jonathan Edwards in having the honour bestowed upon him.
I reckon the honour should also go to the City's other sporting stars like the 9,625 fans who watched Newcastle beat Bristol Rovers 3-0 at home on May 2, 1979, or the 10,004 who watched a St James' Park 2-2 draw with Oxford United on April 10, 1991.
In that 1990-91 season there were fewer than 15,000 of them at eight home games. That was before 40,000 jumped on the bandwagon in the Kevin Keegan era, proclaiming they are the greatest fans in the world.
Most of them are only greatest in possessing short memories and, while the civic leaders are doing something to make sure Jonny Wilkinson is never forgotten, I reckon the 10,000 who never deserted their club in their lowest times should be remembered as Newcastle's greatest fans.
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