As legendary Liverpool midfielder James Milner received an MBE for his services to football and charity the organisations he has supported expressed their delight and thanks.
Alongside his two-decade expanding football career, James Milner set up the James Milner Foundation to promote healthy recreation for young people across the country.
His charity aims to develop and improve opportunities in sport, particularly in football, cricket and rugby, whilst also financially supporting young people in need of support in health and education.
James Milner MBE 🎖
Congratulations, Milly 🙌 pic.twitter.com/nVgC35jsZj
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) March 7, 2023
In an interview with Football Daily, James Milner said: “We set up the charity to help so many people and people who are going through tough times, and to get this recognition is obviously amazing.”
Charities react to the award
Milner’s foundation has raised and donated more than £1.25 million to the MND Foundation, Help for Heroes, NSPCC and Blood Cancer UK.
The foundation has also hosted themed charity balls, such as the ‘A Night in Hollywood’ Ball in Manchester in 2019, which raised £600,000 in auction.
Speaking to Merseynewslive, the MND Foundation and Blood Cancer UK both shared their congratulations.
Chris James, Director of External Affairs at the MND Association said: “We are delighted to hear that James Milner has been awarded an MBE for services to Association football and charity.
“James and The James Milner Foundation have generously committed their time and efforts to raise vital funds and awareness of motor neurone disease
“I feel privileged to have attended two fundraising balls hosted by the Foundation and it was clear James is extremely passionate about making a difference for people with MND.
He said the foundation’s generous support has also extended to families affected by the disease, helping to fund a professional counselling service as part of its commitment to support children and young people affected by MND.
“On behalf of the MND Association, I would like to say thank you and a huge congratulations to James Milner MBE and his family,” he added.
Matthew White, Director of Fundraising at Blood Cancer UK said: “James was motivated to support blood cancer research because his then teammate, Stiliyan Petrov was diagnosed with acute leukaemia – a form of blood cancer – in 2012.”
The James Milner Foundation has since raised £340,000 for Blood Cancer UK in the past ten years, helping fund pioneering research into childhood blood cancers.
“On behalf of the blood cancer community we’d like to congratulate James on his MBE, which recognises his incredible support and advocacy work for in the battle against blood cancer.”
NSPCC Northwest and Cumbria Group released a statement on Facebook saying: “James himself has been involved with the NSPCC since the age of 18 and we are delighted that he has received this award.”
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