James Honoured By Home Town

The 29 year-old, the Red Rose county’s beneficiary for 2012, will receive the highest possible honour from Burnley Council at the Town Hall later this month.

 

It tops off what has been a stunning 2011 for Anderson, nicknamed the Burnley Express.

 

He has played an integral part in an Ashes winning campaign Down Under, helped England reach the number one ranking in Test cricket, helped Lancashire win the County Championship for the first time in 77 years and has been awarded a benefit year by the county too.

 

Anderson grew up playing at Turf Moor for Burnley in the Lancashire League, famously going from league cricket to the international arena in the space of five and a half months back in 2002.

 

He is the youngest recipient of the Freedom of Burnley, and he said: “I’m honoured to be receiving the Freedom of the Borough. I grew up playing cricket for the local club, and still have strong ties to the area.

 

“As a Burnley lad, born and bred, it also means a great deal to my family.”

 

Anderson, who also launches his benefit year in Manchester on Tuesday night, follows in the footsteps of former team-mate Andrew Flintoff, who was awarded the Freedom of Preston in 2005.

 

Anderson’s nomination states: “James was born and educated in Burnley. He played for Burnley Cricket Club and quickly moved on to playing for Lancashire and then for England.

 

“He has now represented his country in over 50 Test matches and more than 100 one-day internationals.

 

“His latest and greatest achievements were in the 2010/11 Ashes, where he made a magnificent contribution to the England team’s success - and, in doing so, giving the whole nation a boost.”

 

Anderson went to both St Theodore’s RC High School and St Theodore’s RC Sixth Form Centre in Burnley.

 

The Mayor of Burnley, Councillor David Heginbotham, said: “James is Burnley born and bred, and learnt his cricketing skill on local cricket pitches.

 

“He’s grown into an international sporting star, and was one of the in-form players in England’s Ashes success earlier this year.

 

“He’s a great ambassador for Burnley, and I know he’s someone that young people especially look up to as a role model and as someone they want to emulate.

 

“His sporting success story is one that will drive others to work and train hard to become sporting stars, in whatever field of sport they choose. It’s a great honour for me to bestow the council’s highest honour on James.”