Beckham continues to hog the headlines |
David Beckham's turbulent week has taken a turn for the better with confirmation that he has been awarded an OBE. The England captain, who looks set to leave Manchester United this summer, was rewarded for his services to football.
Other sports personalities honoured include England cricketer Alec Stewart, jockey Tony McCoy, boxer Joe Calzaghe, hurdler Colin Jackson, swimmer Alison Sheppard and footballer Shaun Goater.
David Hemery, the former hurdler who stepped down as president of UK Athletics in November, was awarded a CBE.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Stewart won his OBE just a week after overtaking Geoffrey Boycott and David Gower to move into second place in England's list of Test run-scorers.
The 40-year-old, who already had an MBE, follows in the footsteps of his father Mickey, the former England coach and batsman.
 When my dad told me about the MBE I thought he was winding me up |
"I've always gone about my cricket in a professional way and to be honoured in this way for it makes me very proud and it's a moment I'll treasure," said Stewart.
Record-breaking jump jockey McCoy was made an MBE.
The Ulsterman's achievements include the most successful season in history with 289 winners in 2001-02.
"It is an honour to be recognised in this way but I feel it's not just an honour for me but an honour for the whole of jump racing," said McCoy.
Calzaghe received an MBE in recognition of his six years as world super-middleweight champion.
He has held the WBO belt since he beat Chris Eubank in 1997 and has won all 35 of his professional bouts.
"I'm proud to get the honour and it is another feather in my cap really after my years as champion," said Calzaghe.
"My dad was ringing me teasing that I'd had some bad news from the Inland Revenue. Even when he told me about the MBE I thought he was winding me up."
Welsh athlete Jackson, who retired three months ago after a glittering career on the track, was made a CBE.
Jackson has held the 110m hurdles world record for more than a decade and was twice world champion.
Scottish swimmer Sheppard, who has competed in four Olympics, was made an MBE after the most successful year in her career.
The 30-year-old took gold in the Commonwealth Games in Manchester, gold in the European Championships and silver in the World Championships.
Manchester City striker Goater has been honoured with an MBE for services to sport and young people in his home country of Bermuda.
The 33-year-old Bermudan international has played in England since 1988 and has been at City since 1997.
Others honoured for services to sport with MBE's were: James Bennison (services to basketball), Michael Carney (services to amateur boxing), Ernest Guild (director British Wheelchair Athletic Association, services to disabled sport), Carrie Humble (services to racehorse welfare), Barbara Jackson (services to women's golf), Mary Matthews (services to archery), Graeme Randall (services to judo), Robert Randall (services to karate) and Penny Spink (services to British fencing).
MMIX
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