Ally McCoist and Graeme Souness given major awards in King’s Birthday Honours

Football legend Ally McCoist leads a cast of sports stars who are bagging top gongs in the King’s Birthday Honours list.

The former Scotland striker, 61, was recognised with an OBE for his contribution to football and broadcasting, after launching a career as a television pundit on shows like A Question of Sport after retiring from playing. McCoist is now often found as one of the lead commentators for TNT Sport, recently calling the Champions League Final at Wembley, and remains one of the sport’s most-loved figured across the UK.

Fellow Scot and Liverpool legend Graeme Souness, 71, was also handed an OBE for his football career and charity work. Last year Souness completed a charity swim across the English Channel raising more than £1m for the charity Debra UK after completing the 21-mile challenge.

Souness, who left Sky Sports in 2023, is hoping to raise more money in the near future, and has being eyeing a challenge in either the Atlantic of the North Pole, having declared: “I’m in this now, I’m in this for the long-haul.”

Former Lioness Karen Carney, 36, has been handed an OBE for her sparkling football career. At the time of her retirement, she was the second most capped England player with 144 appearances. And last year she also released a Government-led review following England’s UEFA EURO 2022 success in a bid to boost the womens’ game.

Former England defender and coach Chris Powell, 54, receives an OBE for his contribution to football, while retired rugby referee Wayne Barnes, 45, also bagged an OBE for his services to the game.

Trailblazer Patricia Gregory gets an OBE for a career in which she became the founding member of the Women’s Football Association. Her latest efforts include a push to give the original 1972 Lionesses team and all female football players legacy caps. Retired sprinter Doris “Anita” Neil, 74, has been given an OBE after she became the first black British woman Olympian in 1968.

The biggest prize of all is bestowed on the ‘Manx Missile’, Mark Cavendish, the most successful men’s sprint cyclist of all time, who has been handed a knighthood.

The accolade comes just weeks after the 39-year-old from the Isle of Man achieved his 164th career victory.

Chief Minister of the Isle of Man, Alfred Cannan MHK, said: “Sir Mark is a phenomenal athlete, role model and ambassador for both his sport and the Isle of Man. He has performed at the highest level for more than a decade and his ‘never say die’ attitude is truly an inspiration for us all.

“As a nation, the Isle of Man prides itself on its cycling prowess and works hard to create an environment that nurtures talent, allowing our young people to flourish. It is extremely satisfying to see Sir Mark come through out junior cycling ranks and succeed at the very highest level.”

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