Surprising Football Stars Ranked in the King's Birthday Honours List
Northern Ireland's Jonny Evans, England's Eni Aluko, and Arsenal's Ian Wright receive prestigious honours for their contributions to football, with John Greig of Rangers being recognized with a CBE
Ian Wright, Jonny Evans and Eni Aluko were among those named in the King's Birthday Honours list.
Former Arsenal striker Wright has been rewarded with an OBE for services to football and charity.
After turning professional at the age of 21, Wright displayed his remarkable talent by netting an impressive 117 goals for his initial club, Crystal Palace, setting a post-war record. Notably, he showcased his skills against Manchester United in the 1990 FA Cup final, scoring two goals. Unfortunately, Crystal Palace ultimately succumbed to a 1-0 defeat in the replay.
However, Wright's success did not stop there. Upon joining Arsenal in 1991, he experienced even greater achievements. For an astounding six consecutive seasons, he claimed the title of the Gunners' top scorer, solidifying his position as a pivotal player for the club. In total, he contributed an outstanding 185 goals to Arsenal's tally, a figure that remains second only to the legendary Thierry Henry.
Since his retirement in 2000, Wright has established himself as a prominent and well-liked commentator on Match of the Day and ITV's coverage of the England men's and women's teams. He has been a strong advocate against racism in football and recently expressed his support for equal opportunities for girls in sports, particularly during the Women's Euros last summer.
Aluko, a former Chelsea and England forward who boasts an impressive 102 caps for the Lionesses, has been honored with an MBE.
Image:
Eni Aluko, a former forward for the Lionesses, has been awarded an MBE. Starting her career at Birmingham in 2001, Aluko played a crucial role in Chelsea's victories in the Women's Super League titles of 2015, 2017, and 2018, as well as the FA Cup in 2015 and 2018. Additionally, she was a member of the Lionesses team that made it to the final of the 2009 Euros and played a significant role as part of Team GB during the London 2012 Olympics.
Jonny Evans, the Northern Ireland and Leicester defender, was also bestowed with an MBE in the King's Birthday Honours list for his remarkable achievement of surpassing 100 international caps.
Image:
Northern Ireland centurion Jonny Evans has been honoured
Evans said: "When I got the letter through the door and it had the royal seal on the back I was a bit shocked, but it was also amazing.
Seeing that it was in acknowledgment of my dedication to association football in Northern Ireland, it filled me with immense pride. It truly emphasized the significance of playing over 100 matches for my country and remaining committed to Northern Ireland for such a substantial period. I had the privilege of representing every individual in the country and creating countless cherished memories throughout my journey.
Former Rangers captain John Greig is honored with a CBE for his remarkable career with the Glasgow club. Throughout his time with Rangers, he achieved five league titles and six Scottish Cups. In 1972, Greig captained the team to victory in the European Cup Winners' Cup. Additionally, in 1999, he was recognized by supporters as 'The Greatest Ever Ranger'.
Image:
John Greig has been named in the King's Birthday Honours list
"It's a surreal experience, but also a very pleasant one," said referee Amy Fearn, who made history in 2010 by becoming the first woman to officiate an EFL match. She took over the responsibilities of refereeing for the final 20 minutes of the game between Coventry and Nottingham Forest. Fearn further made her mark in 2013 by becoming the first woman to referee in the men's FA Cup first round.
I received a surprise letter in the mail about a month ago, informing me that I had been nominated for something and asking if I would be interested in accepting the nomination. At first, I couldn't believe it and thought someone was playing a prank on me!
The letter came completely out of nowhere. When I called to verify the details, I inquired about the person who had nominated me, but they refused to disclose that information.
"For someone to take the time to nominate me and go to this much effort is very nice and touching."
