It was a perfect end to Preston's man of the moment, Andrew 'Freddie' Flintoff, after being awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours List.
The cricketer, who was integral to England's Ashes victory last summer after an 18-year drought, was given the award for his services to cricket along with fellow team mates.
Flintoff, who collected numerous awards last year, including the coveted BBC Sports Personality of the Year, said: "When you start playing cricket, you do it for enjoyment and if you're fortunate to progress, you hope that you're good enough to play for England, but to win the Ashes and get an MBE for doing it is unbelievable.
"It's something of a shock, to be honest. Both my family and myself are very proud to have won it."
Flintoff, who was brought up in Ribbleton but now lives in Manchester, will also be made an honorary freeman of Preston later this month -- an honour shared by footballing great, Sir Tom Finney, and Wallace and Gromit creator, Nick Park.
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