Calls for Kevin Sinfield to be rewarded for his outstanding fundraising efforts with a knighthood have been ignored, as the retired rugby league legend was left off the New Year's Honours list.
Sinfield set himself the monumental challenge of completing seven marathons in as many days, hoping to raise £77,777 towards research into Motor Neurone Disease (MND). He did it in support of his former team-mate and great friend Rob Burrow, who has lost his ability to walk and talk since his diagnosis.
Not only did Sinfield complete the challenge, he vastly exceeded his fundraising target to reach which stands at £2.34m, at the time of writing. More than 40,000 people have signed a petition calling for the Leeds Rhinos legend, who was made an OBE on the 2021 Birthday Honours list.
"We need to publicly appreciate people like Kevin," wrote Mel Handforth, who created the petition. "He embodies teamwork, not only on the field for Leeds Rhinos, but more so off the field with his absolute dedication to raise awareness and money for Rob Burrow and others suffering from MND."
Anyone can nominate someone to be on the list, after which a committee whittles down a shortlist which is then passed onto the King for approval. However, the plea to honour Sinfield has gone unanswered, as he was a notable omission in the latest New Year's Honours list.
The list of those who have received honours is headlined, unsurprisingly, by four members of England's Lionesses who won the European Championship earlier this year. Captain Leah Williamson has been made an OBE, while Lucy Bronze, Ellen White and Beth Mead are all MBEs – the latter adding to her BBC Sports Personality of the Year gong from earlier this month.
Wales captain Sophie Ingle (OBE) and Scotland skipper Kim Little (MBE) are also on the list. Little's team-mate Jen Beattie has also been made an MBE for services to football and charity, recognising her work after her breast cancer diagnosis in 2020.
Former Northern Ireland captain Gail Redmond has also been made an MBE. Redmond is currently the women's development manager at the Irish Football Association Foundation.
Brighton and Hove Albion chief executive Paul Barber has also been made an OBE, while Scotland and Liverpool full-back Andy Robertson becoming an MBE. He is the only active male footballer to be recognised in this year's honours.
But there is recognition for player and manager-turned-pundit Chris Kamara, who has become well-known among football fans for his work as a Sky Sports pundit. He has been made an MBE for services to football, anti-racism and charity.
Another of the bigger names on the list is Denise Lewis, who won heptathlon gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. She has been given a damehood while former Northern Ireland, Tottenham and Arsenal goalkeeper Pat Jennings has been made a CBE.
"I'm still totally blown away. I can't even process it. But I haven't stopped smiling since I heard the news. It's an incredible honour," Lewis told the Press Association."
Among the other sports stars to receive honours on the New Year's list are Exeter Chiefs chairman Tony Rowe (CBE), Brighton chief executive Paul Barber (CBE), cycling star Lizzie Deignan (MBE), vice-chair of the British Paralympic Association Geoffrey Newton (OBE) and former boxing champion Johnny Nelson (MBE).
Full list of sports stars included in 2023 New Year's Honours
Damehood
Denise Lewis, OBE, Commonwealth Games England president, for services to sport (Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire)
CBEs
Pat Jennings, OBE, former Northern Ireland, Tottenham and Arsenal goalkeeper, for services to football and charity (Brickendon, Hertfordshire)
Ian Reid, Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games chief executive officer, for services to sport (Kilmacolm, Renfrewshire)
Tony Rowe, OBE, Exeter Chiefs chief executive and chairman, for services to rugby union and the community in Exeter (Exeter)
OBEs
Paul Barber, Brighton chief executive, for services to football (Hove, East Sussex)
Sophie Ingle, Wales women football team captain, for services to football (Epsom, Surrey)
Geoffrey Newton, lately British Paralympic Association vice-chair, services to sport (London)
Floyd Steadman, former Saracens scrum half and captain, for services to rugby union, education and charity (Ludgvan, Cornwall)
Michael Williams, World Rowing treasurer and British Rowing board member, for services to rowing (Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire)
Leah Williamson, England women football captain, for services to football (St Albans, Hertfordshire)
MBEs
Sandra Bailie, Northern Irish international lawn and indoor bowler, services to bowls (Newtonards, County Down)
Jen Beattie, Scotland and Arsenal footballer, for services to football and charity (St Albans, Hertfordshire)
Lucy Bronze, England and Barcelona footballer, for services to football (Manchester)
Jade Clarke, England and Leeds Rhinos netballer, for services to netball (Manchester)
Lizzie Deignan, track and road racing cyclist, for services to cycling (Leeds)
Robert Elstone, British businessman who held roles with Castleford, Everton and rugby league's Super League, for services to sport (Stockport)
Dave Ferguson, for services to squash (Edinburgh)
Chris Kamara, former football player, manager and pundit, for services to football, anti-racism and charity (Wakefield)
Kim Little, Scotland and Arsenal footballer, services to football (St Albans, Hertfordshire)
Beth Mead, England and Arsenal footballer, services to football (Saltburn-by-the-Sea, North Yorkshire)
Aston Moore, British Athletics national coach, for services to athletics (Rugby, Warwickshire)
Johnny Nelson, former professional boxer, for services to boxing and young people in South Yorkshire (Renishaw, South Yorkshire)
Gail Redmond, former Northern Ireland football captain, for services to football in Northern Ireland (Carrickfergus, County Antrim)
Andy Robertson, Scotland and Liverpool defender, for services to football, charity and young people (Wilmslow, Cheshire)
Ellen White, former England striker and record goalscorer, for services to football (Glossop, Derbyshire)
