BBC SPORT | Football | PFA's Batson gets MBE

Brendon Batson, deputy chief executive of the PFA players' union, has been awarded an MBE for services to football in the New Year's Honours List.

Batson has been a key figure in the development of the PFA alongside Gordon Taylor.

He has also campaigned for greater sportsmanship and communication in the game.

Batson sprang to prominence as one of the first high-profile black footballers.

Along with team-mates Cyrille Regis and the late Laurie Cunningham, he was a key figure at West Bromwich Albion in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Since then Batson has been a tireless campaigner to eradicate racism from all levels of football.

Batson - who started his career at Cambridge United - was the right back in Ron Atkinson's flamboyant Albion side.

He swiftly established himself as one of the PFA's senior administrators after his playing career ended.

Brendon Batson
Batson at West Brom

He is one of the PFA's registered agents, and has been a representative in many big money deals.

Batson recently revealed his and the PFA's hopes for 2001.

"We hope the situation regarding an overhaul of the transfer system is resolved successfully. It is a matter that has to be addressed.

"Obviously we were disappointed to see England bow out of Euro 2000 and that we lost our World Cup bid.

"We've also been concerned about the way players have been racially abused in European competition and thankfully Uefa have taken action.

"On the positive side we look at Leeds and the way they have progressed in the last two years to the Champions League knockout stages with a young side."


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