ABERDEEN City Council has gone against normal criteria to approve plans for a commemorative plaque for Denis Law in a move that the local authority said shows the depth of feeling in the city for the football legend.
Denis Law was born in 1940 and raised in the Printfield area of Aberdeen. He would go on to become Scotland’s only winner of the Ballon d’Or, netting 30 goals for Scotland, and playing for the likes Manchester United, Torino, and Manchester City.
Sadly passing away in January of this year, his legacy continues to be represented through the Denis Law Legacy Trust and its successful Streetsport initiative with Robert Gordon University, as well as the Trust’s popular Cruyff Courts which can be found across Aberdeen – offering youngsters a safe and free place to play sports.
The commemorative plaque will be sited at his birthplace at 6B Printfield Terrace. The Denis Law Legacy Trust had made the application which was unanimously agreed by Aberdeen City Council’s finance and resources committee, going against normal criteria for plaques that the person should have died at least 20 years ago and have been born more than 100 years ago.
Aberdeen City Council finance and resources convener, councillor Alex McLellan, said, “Denis especially demonstrated his strong and caring commitment to younger generations by creating a legacy trust. The positive support and opportunities that Denis Law has given through the trust is an enduring way to celebrate our much-loved and much-respected local football hero.
“Denis Law has been an inspiring role model to so many people as well as being an exceptional footballer – he was and continues to be a hero in Aberdeen and abroad and we are very happy to agree to a commemorative plaque.”
Aberdeen City Council co-leader, councillor Ian Yuill, added, “It shows the depth of feeling to Denis Law that the Committee agreed today to go against normal criteria and agreed to a commemorative plaque honouring him. It is fitting he is recognised for all his achievements, not just those on the football pitch.”
Denis Law is honoured elsewhere in the city, with statues at both the Provost Skene House and Aberdeen Sports Village, with other large-scale murals depicting the Law Man set to be unveiled later this month.
