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Civic reception for ‘Stockport Sharks’
Alex Scapens28/ 6/2006
THE new mayor of Stockport will hold a civic reception to honour rugby union heroes Sale Sharks - and take the chance to urge the team to change its name.
Councillor Peter Burns has invited the squad to a ceremony at the town hall after their history-making 45-20 victory over Leicester Tigers to claim the Guinness Premiership title for the first time.
And during the reception, which is expected to be in September, Coun Burns will ask if the team will ever become known as Stockport Sharks.
He said: "I wouldn't make it a major part of my speech as I know it is a sensitive issue and I wouldn't want to trample on people's feelings.
"But it has been raised in the past and a gentle mention wouldn't be pushing it too hard. It couldn't be done immediately but I hope one day they will take on the name of the town.
"The Sale Sharks have made a real connection with the people of Stockport, they have captured people's imagination here."
Sale Sharks, who play their home games at Stockport County's Edgeley Park ground, are the first team to top the Guinness Premiership league and then win the play-offs between the leading four teams to find the competition's eventual winner.
Coun Burns watched the final game at Twickenham and offered a civic reception to Sharks' chief executive Niels De Vos during the after-match celebrations.
All parties have agreed in principle but an exact date has yet to be fixed.
The squad and officials will be received in the mayor's parlour, have a congratulatory speech and, it is hoped, bring the Guinness Premiership trophy - the top prize in English club rugby union.
Coun Burns said: "The team have brought a lot of pride to Stockport and having a winning team in a major sport makes the town prominent nationally.
"This is important because it can help attract investment and businesses."
Mr De Vos added: "We were honoured to be asked, we have received tremendous support in Stockport and 3,000 or 4,000 of our season ticket holders have a Stockport post code.
"But a name change is not on the agenda. There is already a Stockport Rugby Club who also won a trophy at Twickenham this year and we have a lot of history as Sale."
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30/06/2006 at 16:21
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4/07/2006 at 02:17