IT'S AN HONOUR THAT I HAVEN'T GOT AGAIN THIS YEAR

I didn't get nominated for a New Year's Honour again this year, but a good number from the football fraternity have. Foremost are Dennis Law, now 75 and a United player and Scottish International, between 1962-73. Also Francis Lee, 71, is on the list, and he starred at City and Derby between 1968-75, as well as for England. Both have the CBE pinned to their chest for services to football and charity. Both sides of Manchester will be satisfied with this recognition.

Keeping the Manchester link, Tracey Neville gets an MBE for her services to netball and the link is, of course, with her Neville brothers. The family lost their father recently; he would have been very proud to see his daughter get recognition for her hard work, along side his much acclaimed boys.

Steph Houghton and Fara Williams (148 caps and homeless for 6 years) also got MBEs for their contribution to the England Womens' football squad, as they came third in the World Cup in Canada.
It seems a but sad that only two get pinpointed when the event was clearly a team effort.

Heather Rabbatts is arguably the most influential women in English football in her role as a director at the FA. A Jamaican, she had been deputy chair at Millwall and then the first female on the board at the FA. She will have had much to say about the treatment of Eva Carneiro at Chelsea.

Off the pitch bjut very much involved in football presentation is Jacqui Oatley who was the first female commentator on BBC's Match of the Day in 2007. Her gong is given for broadcasting and diversity in sport.

Brian Lee was responsible for running Bisham Abbey Sports' Centre at Marlow and had much to do with Wycombe Wanderers FC before they became FLeague. He is now Chair of the Football Conference Trust, and quite rightly he is rewarded.

One of the youngest football "stars" is 13 years old Jonjo Heuerman, a West Ham fan and whose story is told on this link:-
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/honours-list/12075239/New-Years-Honours-Schoolboy-13-among-youngest-ever-to-receive-a-gong.html

Maybe not so well known are David Hando of the Newport County Football Association and Alan Crocker from Derryhill FC in Wiltshire who get rewards for their devotion to the game at grass roots. There are others, they just need a nomination!
David is in the photo........>