2022 Hall of Fame Inductee

Dame Sarah Storey DBE is a British Paralympic athlete in cycling and swimming, and a multiple gold medallist in the Paralympic Games, and six times British national track champion. She is the most successful and most decorated British Paralympian of all time. Dame Sarah is a also a policy advocate for British Cycling with a focus on promoting road safety and access to cycling as transport.

“Manchester is my hometown, and this is such a huge honour, this is just so special”

2022 Hall of Fame Inductee

Sacha Lord is the co-founder of Parklife Festival and The Warehouse Project, and he is the night-time economy advisor to the Mayor of Greater Manchester.

"In Greater Manchester there is no ceiling to success, and I'm living proof of that. I didn't have a clue what I wanted to do as a 15 year old - if you'd said to me then you're going to have the biggest nightclub in the world, you're going to have the biggest metropolitan festival in the UK, you're going to be advising the mayor, I would not have believed it - but that's what the city has allowed me to do. It inspires you for opportunity.”

2022 Special Recognition Award

Figen Murray OBE is a peace promoter and counter terrorism campaigner. Figen tragically lost her son Martyn Hett in the 2017 Manchester Arena attack. She campaigned for Martyn's Law which received Royal Assent in April 2025,and which legislates for venues to ensure preparedness and protection from terrorist attacks.

2021 Hall of Fame Inductee

Gary Neville is a former professional footballer, broadcaster, and serial entrepreneur. Gary and his Class of 92 peers have invested heavily into sports and leisure across Manchester, launching Salford City FC and Foundation 92 to inspire Greater Mancunians of all backgrounds and ages to achieve through sport.

“To be inducted into the City of Champions Hall of Fame is really a great honour. I didn’t receive many individual honours during my sporting career, but I was part of a fantastic team. There are so many people in this city doing great things. To think that I am now sitting alongside them on the same level and going into the Hall of Fame is something that I’m really proud of.”

2021 Hall of Fame Inductee

Dr Marilyn Comrie OBE is an award-winning serial social entrepreneur, green tech innovator, STEM ambassador and the principal founder of the Black United Representation Network (BURN), which exists to tackle racial inequalities in Greater Manchester. Dr Marilyn has earned a reputation as a transformational leader, influencer and powerhouse for change.

“Manchester is my home – it’s where I went to school and grew up, it’s my heart and I really care about making a difference to the people of this city.It’s such a great honour to be inducted into the City of Champions Hall of Fame. Receiving an OBE from the Queen was special, but being recognised by my own city means far more. This is probably the proudest achievement in my life.”

2021 B Inspired Award

Aitch is a British rapper and songwriter from Manchester. His solo breakthrough single "Straight Rhymez" garnered over 20 million views and brought him to the attention of London rapperStormzy. His song "Rain" has garnered over 39 million views on YouTube.

“Manchester is everything to me, it’s my home and made me who I am. The energy, the people, the history – it’s just 10/10. It means such a lot to receive the B Inspired Award, it shows I’m clearly doing what I set out to do from day one, which is to inspire people. I’ve been inspired and motivated by so many people in my life, so the thought that I’m inspiring others is really nice to hear.”

2019 Hall of Fame Inductee

Steven Bartlett is a Manchester-born entrepreneur, author, and host of the hit podcast The Diary of a CEO. As the co-founder of Social Chain, he built one of the UK’s most successful social media marketing agencies before the age of 30. A passionate advocate for innovation and mental health, Steven has become a prominent voice for young entrepreneurs and was appointed as the youngest-ever investor on BBC’s Dragons’ Den.

“My one redeeming feature was believing in myself, and I feel deeply indebted to Manchester for everything it has done for me. It will always be the home of Social Chain, and it will always be home for me.”

2019 Hall of Fame Inductee

Stephanie Houghton MBE is a former English footballer who both played for and captained Manchester City and the England national team. In March 2016 she became a UEFA women’s football development ambassador and later that year Stephanie was awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours for services to football.

2019 B Inspired Award

James Keegan is a multi-award-winning Irish dancing champion and Michael Flatley’s protégée. He is best known as the lead dancer in Lord of the Dance. 

“There were so many times that I wanted to give up for one thing or another – people at school, you know being a young lad dancing in Manchester, sometimes it was difficult, so just don’t give up, stay dedicated and work hard. Have a dream and your own personal goals and you just never know.”

2019 Hall of Fame Inductee

Ricky Hatton MBE is a British professional boxer (competing between 1997 and 2012). He has held multiple world championships at light-welterweight and one at welterweight, and he is ranked by BoxRec as the best British light-welterweight of all time, the third best in Europe, and eleventh best worldwide.

“You can be a world champion, but if everyone thinks you’re an idiot you’re not going to get recognition, and I certainly wouldn’t have got the award I got tonight if I hadn't remained true to myself, true to my city, true to my fans and true to my people. That’s the key for youngsters – you’ve got to keep your feet on the ground, remain rooted, work hard and that’s what Manchester people do.”

2019 Special Recognition Award 

Vincent Kompany is a former Manchester City captain, four-time Premier League champion, and one of the most respected leaders in modern football. He is a beloved figure in Manchester, known for his commanding presence and community impact. Since retiring, he has transitioned into management and continues to inspire through his leadership and philanthropic work, including his role in the Tackle4MCR campaign to end homelessness in the city.

2018 Hall of Fame Inductee

David Gill is former CEO of Manchester United and vice-president of the Football Association. David has enjoyed a successful career in the world of football on the boards of the FIFA Executive Committee, the UEFA Executive Committee, the Football Association, and Manchester United FC, where he is best known.

"Investing in young people is vital, not only for Manchester, but also, for the future of our country and we need to help and encourage them in the best way possible. My motivation behind the establishment of the Manchester United Foundation in 2006 was to help young people make a brighter future for themselves and long may the good work continue.”

2018 Hall of Fame Inductee

Beth Tweddle is a three-time Olympian and World Champion gymnast. Beth has won numerous medals for her achievements in gymnastics and was the first female gymnast from Great Britain to win at the World Championships, European Championships, and the Olympic Games.

“Being from the North-West myself, I’m delighted to see the amazing work that Diane does in Manchester to help young people reach their full potential.”

2018 B Inspired Award

Bugzy Malone is one of the UK’s biggest independent grime artists, and he was the inspiration behind the B Inspired Award. He gave Manchester a voice in the London dominated grime-scene, being the first grime artist from the city to have commercial success in the UK. He has had four Top 10 EPs, earned a MOBO nomination and his ‘B Inspired’ tour is the biggest headline tour to date by any grime artist.

“Receiving the B Inspired Award is extremely important to me. The fact that my hometown has recognised me for doing the unthinkable means a lot. To me, this is groundbreaking. I’m a believer in accolades that actually matter – to me this is one of them.”

2016 Hall of Fame inductee

Dame Kelly Holmes DBE is a retired British middle-distance athlete and television personality. She is an Olympic, Commonwealth and European champion that has achieved seven Gold, eight Silver and four Bronze medals, including a double win in the 800m and 1500m at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, becoming the first British athlete to do so. She has won BBC Sports Personality of the Year and European Athlete of the Year.

“Manchester is the home of so many inspiring Olympians and sporting icons and it holds a special place in my heart as it’s where I won the 1500m during the 2002 Commonwealth Games, so I have many happy memories.”

2014 Hall of Fame Inductee

Rio Ferdinand is a former professional footballer. Regarded by many to be one of England’s greatest ever players and he is one of the most decorated English footballers of all times. 

“It’s an honour to be recognised by the city of Manchester, a city with which I share so many values. I’ve always strived to put something back into the community and it’s fantastic to see athletes like Diane doing the same.”

2014 Hall of Fame Inductee

Sir Howard Bernstein was a British local government officer. He worked for Manchester City Council for over 45 years, serving as Chief Executive since 1998 where he performed a central role in the regeneration and economic growth of the city. 

"Manchester is a vibrant and diverse city and we have created so many champions in various disciplines. So it’s an honour to have been chosen against the vast pool of candidates eligible for recognition in this way."

2013 Hall of Fame inductee

Sir Chris Hoy is an 11-time world champion and a six-time Olympic champion with a total of seven Olympic medals. At the time of his induction Sir Chris was the most decorated Olympic cyclist of all time. 

“I am delighted to be part of an initiative supporting the aspiring athletes of the future and honoured that the organisation chose me as the inaugural champion.”

2022 Hall of Fame Inductee 

Representative Lauren May Hemp MBE is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Women's Super League club Manchester City and the England national team. 

“This means so much to us after the incredible summer that we have all had and we are so happy that we can inspire so many generations across the country, and for us this is just the beginning and we hope we continue to get the exposure that women’s football rightly deserves, this is just the start.”