SOCCER hero Niall Quinn could become the first freeman of the city of Sunderland if thousands of fans have their way.

The Irish striker has earned widespread admiration and praise since announcing he was donating all the takings from his benefit game to children's hospitals in Sunderland and his native Dublin.

He hopes to raise £1m from the event, dubbed A Night with Niall, a fun evening centring round a friendly match between Sunderland and the Republic of Ireland, at the Stadium of Light, on Tuesday, May 14.

The gesture has set something of a precedent, with other experienced professional footballers recently following suit by announcing they will make charity donations from takings from their testimonial matches.

It has led to the call for Sunderland City Council to bestow freeman status on the popular forward, who has enjoyed a six-year swansong to his career on Wearside since his transfer from Manchester City.

Sunderland fanzine A Love Supreme set the ball rolling with a front cover campaign headed: Dr Quinn, Medicine Man - Give Him the Freedom of the City.

Editor Martyn McFadden backed it up by writing to city council chief executive Colin Sinclair, repeating his appeal.

Mr McFadden said: "Niall deserves it for his gesture in donating the money. Most footballers I have met have big egos, but Niall just seems a totally down-to-earth man.

"I can't think of a footballer who has been more impressive."

Mr McFadden said that in Niall Quinn Sunderland had someone to be proud of, and should trumpet it to the rest of the nation.

His comments were backed up Tom Lynn, editor of rival publication The Wearside Roar, who said the charity gesture had raised the profile of Sunderland at a time when the club has struggled on the pitch. "He has proved among a lot of greed in football that there is some humanity."

The last person to be made a Freeman of Sunderland was Wearside-born BBC news reporter Kate Adie, in 1992.

* Tickets (£20, £10 for children) are selling well for A Night with Niall. They can be booked via the club ticketline, on 0191-551 5151, or on (0870) 112266.

Read more about Sunderland here.