New Year’s honors list: Hearts’ Ann Budge, ex-Celtic CEO Fergus McCann and Lisbon Lion Jim Craig awarded | Football news
Ann Budge said being recognized in King Charles’s New Year’s honors list was a “very lovely” way to end her “incredible” time as Hearts president.
The 77-year-old Edinburgh businesswoman was recognized in the New Year honors alongside former Celtic chief executive Fergus McCann and Lisbon Lion Jim Craig.
Budge was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). McCann is a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), with Craig, 82, also becoming an OBE.
“It couldn’t be better”
Budge led her beloved Hearts out of administration in 2014 and helped galvanize the club behind the scenes before ending her 11-and-a-half-year reign as chairman earlier this month as the team topped the Scottish Premiership.
“It couldn’t be better, could it?” she said as the end of her tenure at Tynecastle coincided with becoming an OBE for services to sport and the community.
Budge (top right) helped seal the deal which saw Brighton owner Tony Bloom (centre) invest in Hearts
“It’s a really nice recognition. It’s not something I expected to happen, so I’m very happy.
“When I first started playing sport, I was a big football fan who would go on a Saturday and then forget about it for the rest of the week.
“So the last 12 years have been incredible. But one of the things I’m glad was mentioned is how much we’ve been able to do for the community, which I think is the best that football has to offer.”
Ann Budge is now honorary president of Hearts after stepping down as president after more than a decade at the club.
Budge said becoming an OBE should serve as recognition for the hard work of everyone who has helped Hearts re-establish themselves as a force on and off the field since their financial implosion more than a decade ago.
“It’s not really about me, it’s about a whole group of people who have helped to do what we’ve done both for the football club and for the community, so I think it’s a good thing for them too,” said Budge, who admits it is still difficult to comprehend that she is no longer at Hearts.
“It’s also nice for the fans because they’ve been so nice to me. It’s great to be recognized that the club has done something good.”
Iconic Celtic duo honored
Fergus McCann took over Celtic in 1994
Fergus McCann made several attempts to invest in Celtic before leading a takeover in 1994 that saved the club from serious financial peril and ended the long-standing ownership of several family dynasties.
Celtic won just three trophies during McCann’s five years in charge, but he redeveloped the stadium and modernized the club before selling his shares for a significant profit, leaving the Glasgow club with a platform to dominate Scottish football.
The 84-year-old grew up in Kilsyth before emigrating to Canada, where he built a successful golf holiday business.
McCann was in attendance at Celtic’s opening Premiership match this season
Jim Craig was one of the Lisbon Lions who became the first British team to win the European Cup when Celtic beat Inter Milan in the Portuguese capital in 1967.
He joined Celtic from Glasgow University Football Club, where he was studying dentistry, and continued as an amateur until signing professional in January 1965. He made his first team debut at the age of 21 while still a student.
Jim Craig with current Celtic captain Callum McGregor
Craig, originally from Govan, made 231 appearances for Celtic and won 15 major trophies. He later played for South African clubs Hellenic and Sheffield Wednesday and was briefly manager of Waterford before becoming a full-time dentist.
