Ballymena United boss David Jeffrey has added another treasured gong to his trophy-laden mantelpiece - an MBE.
The Sky Blues manager was awarded the highly prestigious accolade in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List, and told Love Ballymena he is bursting with pride, on behalf of his parents and his adopted hometown.
David, who has dedicated his life to football and serving the community through social work, said he was indebted to the people of Ballymena for taking him to their hearts and rallying behind his side.
He said: “I’m extremely proud, very, very humbled, and particularly pleased for my mum and dad, and the rest of my family.
“Shocked was the initial emotion. I never considered myself getting any sort of award or recognition, but I’ve got to say, massively proud to be recognised in our Queen’s Honours List.
“The team - I don’t know what way they will react. It has been funny, because right up until today, I’ve been sworn to secrecy, and I have spoken to absolutely nobody about it. Very grateful. Football has played a big part in my life as has being a senior social worker, and prior to that I was a youth and community worker - it’s what I trained professionally for first of all.”
David paid tribute to the Sky Blues
fans and football fraternity across Northern Ireland, throughout which he is revered for his trophy-winning exploits during a remarkable career both on the pitch and prowling the sidelines.
He said: “Looking to serve and to be of help to others has been very much my mantra, and based on my strong Christian faith. I’m very thankful and count myself very blessed at being recognised. I’m just so pleased, and count myself very fortunate - the fact that I was at Linfield for quite a long period and through that met a lot of people - I’m so thankful and so very blessed to come to Ballymena. The town have really taken me in, and my family in, and the appreciation and the encouragement is phenomenal. So I’m very proud at this moment and time of receiving an MBE while I’m Manager of Ballymena United.”
And he told how his mum had warned him to keep tight-lipped about his Royal honour.
He said: “Mum and Dad are absolutely overjoyed. They are really, really pleased. Mum and dad are delighted as are the rest of my family.
“Sharing it secretly within the family my mother described it as “This is family business so no one is allowed to speak about it”.
“So, particularly proud that this happened at this moment in my life and in my journey because the club and the town means just an absolute massive amount to me and my family.”
Another well-known Ballymena native, John Stuart (78), was also awarded an MBE for services to the community in Ballymena.
The former Principal of St. Louis Grammar School, Ballymena, for fifteen years (1987-2002), John was also involved in many aspects of community life formerly through his involvement in both Shopmobility Ballymena, and the Ballymena North Partnership.
John is a current director with the Ballymena Business Centre, a role which he has fulfilled for the last 21 years.
You can view a full list of those recognised and honoured in the 2021 Queen’s Birthday Honours List below:
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