England manager Gareth Southgate has been bestowed with the highest honour that Yorkshire has within its power to grant to ‘outsiders’ born outside the country lines.
The former Middlesbrough captain was officially made an “Honorary Yorkshireman” at the White Rose Awards on Monday evening,
According to the accompanying blurb, the award is presented to “inspirational individuals who have made a big impact on Yorkshire”, despite hailing from distant, exotic lands such as Watford.
Our next award is very special someone, and it’s for none other than current @England manager @GarethSouthgate as we make him an ‘Honorary Yorkshireman’ #WRA2018 pic.twitter.com/w4tx9rQbf7
— Welcome to Yorkshire (@Welcome2Yorks) 12 November 2018
Despite being born elsewhere, Southgate has lived near Harrogate, Yorkshire for nearly 20 years, originally moving to the area whilst still playing for Boro.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Three Lions boss said:
I’m very proud and very honoured. I’ve lived here longer than I’ve lived in any other part of the country, the values and friendliness of the people has been incredible. We love living here and have thoroughly embraced the Yorkshire way of life.
It’s nice to be recognised in this way, I’m very proud.
Southgate is the third person to be bequeathed with the prestigious honour, after Gary Barlow and Tim Firth shared the award in 2015 for co-writing The Calendar Girls musical together. That’s the level of magnitude we’re talking about here, people.
Whether the accolade comes bundled with a whippet, a tweed cap and a pewter tankard of nut-brown ale is unknown.