Should Preston honour Andrew Flintoff with a statue?

A fine test cricket career has come to an end for Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff and he finished by helping England to recapture the Ashes.

The Preston-born cricketer has scored 3,845 runs and taken 246 wickets in test cricket for England, but it’s not just Flintoff’s records that will be remembered – it was his ability to inspire his teammates and rough up opponents, particularly Australia, that will be recalled.

Flintoff already has the honour of being a Freeman of Preston (which gives him the right to drive his livestock through the city if he so wishes) – but now he’s retired from test cricket what could Preston do to show it’s appreciation for one of its favourite sons?

A statue would be fitting, showcasing a man who dedicated himself to his sport – and will continue to do so through one-day internationals and 20/20 matches – but what image would best capture him? I would suggest the iconic moment when after the Edgbaston test in the 2005 Ashes series when Flintoff bent down, after beating Australia by two runs, and consoled Brett Lee the distraught Australian batsmen. Flintoff showed that even in the heat of battle, during an epic sporting contest, that he understood what had just happened.

Or, should it be one of him swatting the ball away to some far boundary and sending the crowd into rapture? Or, one of his fist-pumping celebrations after sending a wicket cartwheeling from another fiery delivery?

And is a statue fitting for the man? Where would it go? Who would pay for it? Should it even happen? Let us know your thoughts below, and who knows if there’s enough who agree we could start a petition to the council and see what their response is.

23rd August, 2009 1 Ed Walker