Marcus Rashford awarded MBE for services to vulnerable children during pandemic

Manchester United and England forward Marcus Rashford has been made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to vulnerable children in the UK during the coronavirus pandemic.

The 2020 Queen's Birthday Honours list was due to be published in June, but was pushed back to enable nominations for people playing crucial roles during the first months of the crisis.

Rashford, 22, successfully lobbied the government into a U-turn over its free school meals policy during lockdown, ensuring children in need would receive meals across the summer.

The England forward, who during September received the Professional Footballers' Association merit award for his efforts, has since formed a child food poverty task force, linking up with some of the nation's biggest supermarkets and food brands.

Following the latest recognition, Rashford said he will continue the fight to protect the most vulnerable children.

"I'm incredibly honoured and humbled. As a young black man from Wythenshawe, never did I think I would be accepting an MBE, never mind an MBE at the age of 22," Rashford said in a statement via Manchester United.

"This is a very special moment for myself and my family, but particularly my mum who is the real deserving recipient of the honour.

"The fight to protect our most vulnerable children is far from over. I would be doing my community, and the families I have met and spoken with, an injustice if I didn't use this opportunity to respectfully urge the Prime Minister, who recommended me for this honour, to support our children during the October half-term with an extension of the voucher scheme, as the furlough scheme comes to an end and we face increased unemployment.

"Another sticking plaster, but one that will give the parents of millions of children in the UK just one less thing to worry about."

Also, Brendan Foster has been awarded a knighthood for services to international and national sport and culture in north-east England. The 72-year-old former athlete was European champion over 5,000 metres in 1974.

Foster, from Hebburn, South Tyneside, went on to win 10,000m bronze at the Montreal Olympics, Great Britain's only track-and-field medal at the event, and secured gold at the 1978 Commonwealth Games.