New Year Honours: England Lionesses fans angry as only four Euro 2022 winners recognised

Angry football fans have asked why only four members of England’s Euro 2022-winning team have been recognised in the New Year Honours list.

Lionesses captain Leah Williamson was made an OBE, while Beth Mead, Ellen White and Lucy Bronze received MBEs.

But despite their role in winning England’s first major football trophy since the men’s 1966 World Cup success, the remainder of the squad were overlooked.

England’s Lionesses lead the way in the New Year Honours list after their Euro 2022 triumph

Ellen White (left) and Beth Mead (right) claimed MBEs for their part in last summer’s success

Lucy Bronze (right) will also receive an MBE on the back of a strong year for club and country

Skipper Leah Williamson becomes an OBE

The team’s Dutch head coach Sarina Wiegman was also made a CBE on the Overseas List.

Asked why not all the England squad have been recognised following their Euros triumph, Sir Hugh Robertson, chairman of the honours sports committee, said: ‘The approach that we’ve tried to take with this is when we have these events there is a danger in sort of carpet-bombing the entire squad because then you get people who’ve done five minutes on the pitch and get an award.

‘So what we’ve tried to do is stick to the principle of the honours which is to recognise excellence and to recognise extraordinary contributions.’

But that cut little ice with fans on social media, who suggested it would have been a very different story had the men’s team won a trophy.

The Since 71 blog said: ‘Congrats to those recognised but to not reward the whole squad is wrong! If it were the @England squad then even the bus driver would’ve got one.

The Labour MP for the City of Durham Mary Kelly Foy tweeted: ‘Congrats to the Lionesses who have received honours, but it should be the entire squad! This team inspired a nation and allowed girls and women to once again see that they can achieve anything they put their minds to.’

The Lionesses Twitter account announced the honours on Friday night – but dozens of replies to the post all asked the same question

Matt Walby said only recognising a portion of the team threatened to ‘divide’ the dressing room, pointing out the contribution of Georgia Stanway, who scored a crucial goal against Spain in the quarter-finals.

Adam Hallgarth wrote: ‘All 31 members of England’s men’s World Cup-winning rugby squad in 2003 received honours, as did all 12 of the players which won the 2005 men’s Ashes series.

‘Nothing here for Keira Walsh? Mary Earps? Either of the scorers in the final?’ [Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly]’

The Twitter account Great British Space Stuff said: ‘Chloe Kelly, scorer of the most iconic England goal since ’66 gets – nothing?!

‘Stick your waffle about recognising ‘time on the pitch’, if a men’s team win anything they all get one – see the Ashes 2005. Disgraceful.’

Faye tweeted: ‘I am pleased for them but what about Russo’s backheel, Hemp’s goals and assists, Rooney and Kelly’s goals in the final. It’s a team effort so the whole squad should be awarded.’

Arsenal defender Williamson lifted the trophy following a 2-1 extra-time victory for Wiegman’s side over Germany at Wembley, where a crowd of 87,192 – a record for any Euros match, women’s or men’s – was in attendance. 

Gunners team-mate Mead, 27, was named player of the tournament at the Euros and claimed the Golden Boot, having scored six goals and provided five assists. The forward subsequently finished as Ballon d’Or runner-up in October and last week was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

Striker White, England Women’s all-time record scorer, netted twice during the tournament to take her tally for the team to 52.

Her appearance in the final – her 113th cap – proved the last of her illustrious career, with the 33-year-old former Manchester City player, who has also featured for Great Britain at two Olympics, announcing her retirement in August.

Barcelona right back Bronze, 31, scored in the 4-0 semi-final thumping of Sweden at the Euros, her fourth major tournament with the Lionesses. 

She recently won the 100th England cap of a career that has included being named FIFA women’s player of the year in 2020.

After England’s cricket team beat Australia in the 2005 Ashes series, for the first time since 1986-87, captain Michael Vaughan, coach Duncan Fletcher, chairman of selectors David Graveney and team operations manager Phil Neale all received OBEs.

Prime Minister Tony Blair poses with England’s 2005 Ashes winners outside 10 Downing Street

England’s 2003 Rugby World Cup winners pose with the Queen at Buckingham Palace

Eleven other members of the playing squad were given MBEs, including Paul Collingwood, who played in only the final Test at The Oval, making scored of seven and ten with the bat.

After England’s rugby team won the 2003 World Cup in Australia, all 31 members of the squad were honoured.

Clive Woodward, the head coach, was knighted, while captain Martin Johnson received a CBE and Jonny Wilkinson and Jason Leonard were given OBEs.

Everyone else, including specialist coaches in the set-up, got MBEs.