A North East lioness will be recognised in the New Years Honours list following her performance the Euros.
Lucy Bronze, who grew up in Northumberland, was part of the England women's national football team which won the Women's Euro 2022. The right-back was voted 'star player' following the competition, which took place in July.
The 31-year-old, who began her career playing Alnwick Town Juniors, Blyth Town and Sunderland, will now be made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).
Read more: Lucy Bronze's rise to success: From Alnwick Town to Women's EURO 2022 final
Lucy was born in Berwick and grew up on Holy Island until the age of seven. She then moved inland and attended the Duchess' High School in Alnwick.
She joined her local football team, Alnwick Town, but was later forced to travel to Blyth as she wasn't allowed to play on the boys' team after the age of 12, due to then-FIDFA regulations.
Blyth had the only girls' team in reach at the time. However, Alnwick now has a thriving women's side, partly inspired by her success. As a teenager she played for Blyth Town and then for Sunderland.
She relocated to America in 2009 after being offered the chance to study at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and play for the North Carolina Tar Heels.
She returned to Sunderland and went on to play football for Everton, Liverpool, Manchester City and Lyon. Just before the Euros in 2022, she moved to Barcelona in Spain.
She told the PA news agency: “To be recognised for everything I’ve done throughout my career was a little bit surreal. It’s just something so different to football and something harder to compute.
“An MBE is obviously a huge honour and very special. The first person I told was my grandma.
“My grandma probably doesn’t understand many of the awards I’ve won in football but she adored the Queen, so I thought ‘this (MBE) is going to be her special thing’.”
Lucy is one of four key members of the Lionesses to be honoured for their services to Association Football.
Beth Mead, who also played for Sunderland, received the golden boot during the tournament. The striker, who grew up in Hinderwell, North Yorkshire, will receive an MBE.
Forward Ellen White will also receive an MBE as England women's top international goal scorer.
Squad captain Leah Williamson, who plays as a midfielder and central defender, will be presented with an OBE.
Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt said: “I would like to congratulate Sarina, Leah, Beth, Ellen and Lucy on behalf of everyone at The FA. We are delighted that their services to football have been recognised in this way.
“They all played a pivotal role on and off the pitch in a historic year for women’s football and their recognition is wholeheartedly deserved.
“These individual honours are a positive reflection of the whole squad and support team and as this memorable year draws to a close, I would like to voice my thanks and pay tribute to them all.”
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