Sporting New Year's Honours List

[Lineker]

Ryder Cup hero Graeme McDowell and World Cup final referee Howard Webb have both been awarded MBEs in the New Year Honours List.

There is a knighthood for British Airways chairman Martin Broughton, who was Liverpool's independent chairman during their takeover.

Former Rugby Football Union chief executive Francis Baron gets a CBE.

There is an OBE for ex-England rugby union star Mike Catt and an MBE for BBC rugby league commentator Ray French.

McDowell, the 31-year-old golfer from Northern Ireland nicknamed GMac, began the year ranked 50 in the world but has moved swiftly up the rankings.

In June, he became the first European for 40 years to win the US Open when he triumphed at Pebble Beach and in October his five-foot putt on the 17th green at Celtic Manor saw Europe beat the USA in the Ryder Cup.

He has ended 2010 as the number six golfer in the world and with a host of awards to his name, including player of the year voted for by the US and the European golf writers.

The Portrush man said he was proud at being chosen for an MBE.

"It is a huge honour for me to be included on the New Year Honours List," he said.

"For my achievements as a professional golfer to be recognised in this way is truly special. Both myself and my family are very proud of this unique acknowledgement."

The MBE for Webb is the climax of a year in which he became the first man to referee both the World Cup final - in which he set a record of showing 14 yellow cards and a red - and the Champions League final.

The 39-year-old from Rotherham, who is on a five-year break from his job as a sergeant with South Yorkshire Police, took up refereeing in 1989.

He refereed his first international match in 2005 and was also in charge of the 2009 FA Cup final.

But the World Cup final in South Africa proved to be one of the most challenging games of his refereeing career.

Holland's strong-arm tactics against Spain led to the flurry of cards, with Everton's Dutch defender Johnny Heitinga sent off.

In August, Webb said he and assistants Darren Cann and Mike Mullarkey had been honoured to be chosen for the final, which was won by Spain 1-0, but disappointed at having to set an unwelcome record for cards.

But he described the MBE as a fantastic honour.

"It has been an unbelievable 12 months and this honour tops off an amazing 2010," he said.

"It will be a real treat to go to the Palace with my wife and family and it should be a marvellous occasion.

"I always say refereeing is about your team, and without the support and ability of my assistants Darren Cann and Mike Mullarkey I would not have been selected for the final.

"This honour is for them too and it would be lovely if they could be recognised in a similar way at some point in the future."

French, one of the few forwards to have been capped for England in rugby union and Great Britain in rugby league during his playing days, said he had kept his MBE a secret even from his wife Helen.

"I've been keeping it under my hat - my wife will be gobsmacked when she finds out," said the 71-year-old old, who combined playing with being a schoolteacher.

"In a sense, I feel somewhat embarrassed by it because I'm being rewarded for doing something that I have loved every minute of.

"To me, this is also an honour for rugby league and it's good the game is recognised in this way."

Catt, who retired in May aged 38, was part of England's 2003 World Cup-winning team and also played in the 2007 decider against South Africa.

Born in South Africa, Catt started playing club rugby in the amateur days, joining Bath in 1992, and made his England debut in 1994 as a replacement for Rob Andrew.

He played for England on and off for the next 13 years, winning 75 caps in all - and he played once for the British and Irish Lions against South Africa.

Catt's long Bath career came to an end in 2004 and he went on to enjoy a remarkable swansong with London Irish where he was Premiership player of the season in 2006 and in 2009 became the oldest ever player to play in a Premiership final aged 37.

Catt, now London Irish's attack coach, said: "I have been fortunate to have had an enjoyable and successful career in rugby and to now be recognised in such a way makes me feel very privileged.

"I would like to thank my family along with everyone who has supported and encouraged me throughout my career."

Jimmy McIlroy, one of the greats of Northern Ireland football, gets an MBE for services to football and charity.

McIlroy, 79, played most of his club football for Burnley - the club has a stand named in his honour - and was capped 51 times for Northern Ireland.

There is a CBE for George Kerr, a 72-year-old from Edinburgh, who in February became one of only 19 people since 1935 - and only the second Briton - to have achieved the status of 10th Dan in judo.

Peter Walker, the chairman of Glamorgan and man most responsible for the development of the national cricket centre for Wales, receives an MBE for services to cricket.

Toby Balding, the Grand National-winning racehorse trainer who retired this year after half a century and is the uncle of BBC presenter Clare Balding, receives an OBE.

Congrats to all of them. Can't really argue with any either. Miles Jacobsen (creator of Football Manager) also got an OBE!

" This is probably the oddest tweet I've ever sent but, erm, I've been awarded an OBE in the New Years Honours list -

http://bit.ly/hmj9ms "

[Lineker]

Northern Irish golfers Darren Clarke and Rory McIlroy are both recognised in the New Year Honours List.

Clarke, 43, receives an OBE five months after he won the Open Championship at Sandwich, while fellow Northern Irishman McIlroy is awarded an MBE.

McIlroy, 22, won the US Open at Congressional by eight shots in June in a record low score of 16-under-par 268.

His victory represented a remarkable recovery after a demoralising collapse in the previous major, the US Masters, when he carried a four-stroke lead into the final round but shot 80 to finish tied 15th.

There is a knighthood for former Aston Villa chairman Doug Ellis, 87, who is recognised for his charity work.

Also knighted are two men for their involvement in the organisation of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Charles Allen is a board member on organising committee LOCOG and John Armitt, recognised for services to engineering and construction, is the chairman of the Olympic Delivery Authority.

Former Formula One world champion Nigel Mansell and England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Giles Clarke receive CBEs.

Mansell, who won the world title in 1992 and followed up by claiming the IndyCar championship the following year, is honoured in his role as president of UK Youth.

UK Youth is a charity which provides tools to help build young people's self-esteem, aptitude and skills.

Clarke, the former chairman of Somerset, has been in charge at the ECB since 2007 and has overseen the structure which has aided England's rise to the top of the world rankings.

Professor Sarah Springman, president of the British Triathlon Federation, receives a CBE for services to her booming sport.

Much-loved retired cricket umpire Dickie Bird is awarded an OBE.

The 78-year-old Yorkshireman, one of the game's great characters, stood in 66 Test matches and is honoured for services to cricket and charity.

England rugby league captain Jamie Peacock is made an MBE.

The 34-year-old Leeds Rhinos prop is the most successful player in Super League history having won seven titles in a career which also includes a long spell at Bradford.

In rugby union, Scotland's record cap-holder Chris Paterson, who announced his international retirement earlier this month, is also made an MBE.

The 33-year-old amassed 809 points in 109 internationals.

Wales veteran Martyn Williams, the 36-year-old flanker who has won 103 caps but has recently been sidelined with a broken arm, is another to be awarded the MBE.

Top Olympic prospect Sarah Stevenson also receives an MBE at the end of an emotional year in which she won the taekwondo World Championship. Both of her parents died this year.

Acclaimed Formula One engineer Adrian Newey, chief technical officer at the Red Bull team of world champion Sebastian Vettel, is made an OBE.

Former horse racing trainer Peter Walwyn becomes an MBE.

Other sporting honours include:

OBEs: Peter Grace, founder of Ascot Park Polo Club; Stuart Hall, sports broadcaster; Charles Lister, greyhound trainer; Frank Newton, services to sailing; Bev Risman, services to rugby league; Andrew Williamson, Football League chief operating officer.

MBEs: Roger Castle, services to gymnastics; Leonard Hill, services to fencing; Denise Jackson, services to Scottish gymnastics; Cecilia Jordan, volunteer, Special Olympics, services to disability sport; Pamela Lycett, services to hockey in Staffordshire; Rosemary Morrison, services to disabled sailing; Frank O'Sullivan, founder and coach Birmingham City Amateur Boxing Club; Michael Read, president Channel Swimming Association; Neil Robinson, national coach Paralympics GB table tennis team; Dennis Slaughter, services to motocross; Umesh Valjee, services to deaf cricket; Keith Anthony White, services to sport; Alan Woodiwiss, founder Sutton High Football Club, services to amateur football.

Diplomatic and overseas list:

OBE: Dr David Harry France, founder Everton Former Players' Foundation, services to football in the UK and Europe.

[Lineker]

Birthday honours!!

World number one golfer Luke Donald has been appointed an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours list.

Former footballer Paul Elliott becomes CBE and ex-England goalkeeper David James and former Wales rugby union international Shane Williams, his country's record try-scorer, get MBEs.

Nick Skelton, 54, is appointed OBE after 33 years as an elite showjumper.

"I am truly honoured to be awarded an MBE by Her Majesty, particularly in her Jubilee year," Donald said.

"Both 2011 and 2012 have been very significant years for me, both personally and professionally, and I am touched that my accomplishments have been recognised in this way."

Donald became the first golfer to top both the European and PGA Tour money lists last year and has had 48 weeks as world number one since first achieving that honour in May 2011.

Tessa Jowell, the former Olympics minister who played a key role in London winning the right to stage the 2012 Games, becomes CBE, as does UK Athletics chairman Ed Warner, who led a successful bid for London to host the 2017 World Athletics Championships.

Veteran athletics coach Malcolm Arnold, still working for UK Athletics at 72, is appointed OBE and Peter Keen, former performance director of UK Sport, becomes CBE.

Alison Williamson becomes MBE for services to archery and Alex Arthur receives the same honour for services to boxing.

Former Chelsea and Celtic player Elliott, 48, is honoured for services to equality and diversity in football. His CBE represents the highest honour so far received by any player from the Premier League era.

Elliott, who works for anti-discrimination group Kick It Out, said: "I am flabbergasted by this honour, and feel privileged and humbled.

"You do not set out in life to win these honours, I have just tried to make a bit of a difference and I would like to thank organisations such as Kick It Out for all the work they have done."

Skelton, who recovered from breaking his neck in 2000, is Britain's number one showjumper more than three decades after his national debut.

He said: "I am very, very pleased and this is great for the sport of showjumping as well. It is a real honour."

Warner, who was appointed chairman of the 2017 World Athletics Championships earlier this year, said: "I was surprised and delighted to learn of the honour.

"I have hugely enjoyed the last five years, these are momentous times for the sport and I'm very proud to be chairman leading up to 2017."

Matt King, who was left paralysed below the neck two weeks after his 17th birthday after being injured playing for the London Broncos Academy in 2004, is appointed OBE for his charity work.

Since then, the RFL Benevolent Fund has given him the financial and practical assistance which has allowed him to gain a first class degree in law and a greater level of independence.

As a fund-raiser for the RFL Benevolent Fund, he has painted Christmas cards using just a mouth-stick to raise money for the charity which supports players whose lives are affected by serious injuries sustained while playing rugby league.

King is also an ambassador for the Variety Club of Great Britain and an advocate for spinal injury charities.

Northern Ireland's Mike Bull, the 1970 Commonwealth Games pole vault champion, becomes an OBE for services to sport and charity.

Sporting honours in full

Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE):

Zaha Hadid, services to architecture (Olympic aquatics centre architect);

Tessa Jowell, formerly Olympics minister, London 2012 board member, services to politics and charity.

Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE):

Paul Elliott, services to equality and diversity in football;

Peter Keen, special advisor, UK Sport.

Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE):

Malcolm Arnold, services to athletics;

Leonard Thomas Arnold, services to gymnastics;

Yvonne Arnold, services to gymnastics;

Lorraine Baldry, chair, Olympic Delivery Authority planning committee;

Dr Michael Bull, services to sport and charity;

Richard Callicott, services to volleyball;

Jerome Frost, head of design and regeneration, Olympic Delivery Authority;

Ian Galloway, programme director and chief executive, CLM Delivery Partner for the Olympic Delivery Authority;

John Michael Glover, services to water polo;

Matt King, services to charity

Nick Skelton, showjumper.

Ed Warner, services to British athletics;

Lawrence Waterman, head of health and safety, Olympic Delivery Authority;

Philip Weaver, chairman, Professional Golfers Association;

Albert Wood, services to canoeing;

Simon Wright, director of infrastructure and utilities, Olympic Delivery Authority.

Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE):

Hamish Adam, services to karate;

Margaret Alphonsi, Saracens and England rugby player;

Alex Arthur, services to boxing;

Ivor Beeks, services to football and community in High Wycombe;

Sharon Brokenshire, services to disability sport;

Keith Cottell, services to swimming and lifesaving;

Lorraine Deschamps, services to sport and diversity;

Luke Donald, services to golf;

Peter Dury, services to groundsmanship;

Lt Cdr John Gawley, services to hockey;

Margaret Jackson, services to netball;

David James, goalkeeper;

Dr Jennifer Shute, services to British skiing;

Shane Williams, services to rugby;

Alison Williamson, services to archery.

Medallist of the Order of the British Empire (BEM):

Terence Downes, services to boxing and charity.

[Dynamite]

Haven't heard of the majority of these people but David James?! He doesn't even get a 'services to...' after his name, just 'goalkeeper'.

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

services to calamity.

[Gazz]

It's amazing that Miles has got to an OBE level, considering his start in the games industry came when he made a scouting tool for CM2 that was so well known, the Collyer Brothers hired him so he would stop making it.

[Lineker]

So I've just seen the advance list of New Year's Honours - it's under a media embargo until one minute past midnight tonight but basically every Brit who did won anything (or coached a winner) in the Olympic or Paralympic games has won a medal. Including a sprinkling of Knighthoods and Damehoods.

[lanky316]

Dame Ellie Simmonds?

[Lineker]

Ask me again at 00:01 in the morning

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

That's a lot of jangliness.

I'd imagine if anyone on that team was to get a Dame then it would be Pendleton as she's been around the longest maybe?

Such awards are given out far too quickly these days. Chris Hoy and Ben Ainslie would be my choice for the higher honours for men as they've proved it over loadsa years.

[Lineker]

Well Hoy is already a Sir.

[MDK]

Stop jerking us off and tell us.

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

What's above a Sir? A Dukehood or something?

[Lineker]

Sir is as big an achievement as you can get, I think. Unless you're LORD Coe.

[Gazz]

Dame Ellie Simmonds?

If I wasn't going to hell before, I am now... ^_^

[Colly]

Have I got one? Promise I won't tell.

[Lineker]

You do not.

[stokeriño]

Sir is as big an achievement as you can get, I think. Unless you're LORD Coe.

Paraphrased ''Yes Minister' quotes ahoy...

JH: "Sir Humphrey's already got all his honours, surely?"

BW: "Oh goodness no, Minister. He's still without his CMG, KCMG and GCMG."

JH: "...?"

BW: "Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George...Knight Commander of the Order of St. Michael and St. George...and Grand Cross of the Order of St. Michael and St. George."

JH: "Ah."

BW: "Of course, in the Service, CMG stands for Call Me God. And KCMG stands for Kindly Call Me God."

JH: "What does GCMG stand for?"

BW: "God Calls Me God."

Of course, this order relates to important service in relation to foreign affairs and therefore aren't really applicable to sports people. Unless you count beating competitors from other countries.

[Gazz]

Have I got one? Promise I won't tell.

You've already got a MBE you greedy git.

[Adam]

It's got to be Sir Wiggo, even though I think these things are given to people too early. The fact Hoy bossed the Velodrome this year whilst already being 'Sir Chris Hoy' was more than a bit weird.