Ted Bates' lifetime of devotion to Southampton has been recognised with an MBE.

Serving the club as a player, manager and now president, Edric Thornton Bates' dedication to the Saints has been uninterrupted since 1937.

He made his debut as a player at the age of 19 after joining from his local club, Norwich City.

The inside forward served Saints as a player for 16 years until 1953, scoring 64 goals in 202 games.

Just two years after his final game as a player, Bates took over from George Roughton as manager at The Dell.

Bates then presided over a momentous change in fortune, steering the side to two promotions and bringing First Division football to The Dell for the first time in 1966.

When he handed the reins over to Lawrie McMenemy in 1973, Bates became chief executive.

He joined the board of directors in 1978 and retiried on age grounds eight years ago when he became vice-president before assuming the president's mantle.

Now 82, Bates still attends all Southampton's home games.

Club secretary Brian Truscott said: "Everybody at the club is delighted and we send our congratulations to Ted.

"We all believe this is long overdue and well earned."