Heart of Midlothian is pleased to confirm that Ann Budge has been named in the King’s New Year’s Honours List.
The club’s Honorary President will receive an OBE for services to sport and community.
Ann, who recently stepped down as Chair, spent 11 years at Hearts, helping to rescue it from the abyss before overseeing a remarkable period of progression both on and off the pitch.
Speaking about the honour, Ann said; “This is an incredibly proud moment, not just for myself but for my family too, because their support across the years allowed me to focus on doing the very best job that I could for Heart of Midlothian Football Club.
“Although sport has been such a big part of my life over the past decade, so too has community. Transforming Hearts’ relationship with the local community, and driving it forward, has been a passion of mine. To therefore be recognised for services to both sport and community is a very rewarding feeling.
“I must also thank the staff at Hearts. Without their involvement, we would not have been able to achieve what we set out to do, returning the club to the top of Scottish football. This honour is as much theirs as it is mine.”
A Hearts spokesperson said; “Everybody at Heart of Midlothian is thrilled that Ann has been honoured, in such a magnificent way, for her work at the club.
“Ann’s story has been told many times, and it will continue to be told for years to come, such is her significance in rescuing the club before restoring its reputation both on and off the pitch.
“It is a fitting tribute that ‘Queen Ann’ be recognised by King Charles III, and we look forward to welcoming back our Honorary President as the proud recipient of an OBE.”
