CREWE Alexandra chairman John Bowler says he was ‘humbled’ to be awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours list.

The club’s long serving chairman, 77, has been honoured for services to football and to the community

Mr Bowler has been chairman of Crewe Alexandra since 1987, succeeding Norman Rowlinson. He had been on the board since 1980.

“It was a great surprise and honour to be recognised for the award. It is rather humbling to have an individual or a group put a proposal forward and for it to be accepted is a great honour,” Mr Bowler said.

“It is recognition for a lot of hard work from a lot of people at the Football Club and as I am receiving the award for services to football and the local community then it is a reward I share with them.”

It’s not the first accolade the former Football Association and Football League director has claimed.

The 77-year-old was awarded with the Football League’s Contribution to The League award in 2014 and was also given the League Managers Association Special Merit Award in May 2013.

Mr Bowler added: “Whilst the players may get most of the coverage, the glory and the glamour if you like there are a lot of dedicated and capable people in the background, who work hard to make sure that the football club runs sufficiently.

“Crewe Alexandra has always been a football club run for the benefit of the local supporters and the town and we have always been immensely proud of trying to give something back to the local community.”