The late Middlesbrough football legend Alan Peacock has been posthumously awarded the Freedom of the Borough, one of the town’s highest civic honours. His family accepted the award on his behalf during a special ceremony held at Middlesbrough Town Hall on Wednesday, 6 May 2026.
The honour is reserved for individuals of distinction and has been granted to fewer than 20 people in the history of the town. According to Middlesbrough Council, the award recognises Mr Peacock’s distinguished career as a professional footballer, during which he scored 140 goals for his hometown club, and his participation for England at the 1962 World Cup in Chile. The decision to bestow the honour was made unanimously by the council on 21 May 2025. At the ceremony on 6 May 2026, the proposal was moved by Mayor Chris Cooke and seconded by Councillor P Gavigan.
Beyond his sporting achievements, the award acknowledges Mr Peacock’s commitment to supporting those affected by dementia. After receiving a diagnosis of the condition in 2018, he became a volunteer ambassador for Middlesbrough Football Club. In this role, he worked to raise awareness of dementia as part of the club’s dementia friendly approach. Over a ten-year period, Mr Peacock engaged directly with more than 1,000 people living with the condition, as well as their carers and staff at care homes.
Mr Peacock died on 29 June 2025 at the age of 87. During the ceremony, the award was presented to his family, including his daughter, Diane Symington, by the Chair of Middlesbrough Council, Councillor Jack Banks. Also in attendance were Mr Peacock’s grandson, Harry Peacock, and his great-grandson, Luca. The event was also attended by the Deputy Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, Trevor Watson, who represented the Crown.
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