John Lee Nixon said he was ‘completely taken aback’ when he first received the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) letter in November this year.
“It was completely out of the blue,” he said. “I had no idea whatsoever and was amazed when I opened the letter.”
Whilst John spent a significant amount of time working with the Football Association and the English Football League (EFL), he credits the honour to his leadership of the league’s charitable arm, the EFL Trust. He described it as an “honour and a privilege” to help expand the community-focused charity.
He likened the trust’s 72-club reach to “tentacles all over England and Wales,” emphasising its ability to make a profound impact through football, particularly among young people and socially disadvantaged groups.
“When we started, we struggled to secure funding to help clubs run community programmes,” he said.
“Back then, the turnover was just £5m. By the time I stepped down, it had grown to £20m. It was a privilege to help lead it forward.”
John was quick to give thanks to his family for all their continued support in his journey.
He said: “This award is not just for me. It’s a thank you to my family, especially my wife, Margaret, who supported me throughout. She’d be up alongside me at half-past four in the morning so I could catch the quarter-to-six train to meetings in London or elsewhere.”
John, who spent 21 years at the Blues, also serves as an England Ambassador, travelling with the national team to matches including a memorable Germany v England game under manager Gareth Southgate.
Sir Gareth, 54, is to be knighted for services to association football after leading the Three Lions to the finals of Euro 2020 and 2024, and the semi-final of the 2018 World Cup.
He resigned after England’s 2-1 final defeat to Spain in July, having fallen just short of glory in every tournament during his eight-year stint.
John said: “He (Southgate) brought the spirit of club football back to the England team. Ambassadors, coaches, and players all travelled together and ate together – it felt like going away with Carlisle United.
“Gareth brought back club feeling to the England game.”