Former Sheffield United skipper Curtis Woodhouse "honoured and humbled" to receive British Empire Medal in New Year Honours list

Woodhouse became United's youngest-ever captain at just 19 years old, before a big-money move to Birmingham City.

But he became disillusioned with football and retired early, at the age of just 26, later taking up professional boxing and winning a British title in only his 28th fight.

He has been honoured for services to football and boxing, and is now the manager of Northern Premier League club Gainsborough Trinity.

“I am really honoured and humbled to receive the British Empire Medal in the Queen’s New Years Honours list,” Woodhouse said.

"When I first started playing football as a young lad in Driffield I dreamt of playing for Liverpool and England. John Barnes was my hero and I spent hours on end pretending to be him, visualising scoring the winning goal for England in the World Cup final.

"Unfortunately life doesn’t always work out as you plan and at 26 years of age I retired with not much but regrets and what could and should have been.

"At 26 the beautiful game of boxing came into my life, with absolutely no amateur experience I turned professional, ranked 189th out of 189 I started my journey, ridiculed and laughed at wherever I went, I just kept plugging away.

"It took me eight years to go from 189th to number 1 and become the British light welterweight champion.

"When I got the news that I was going to be receiving this recognition from her majesty the Queen, it was a perfect time for me to reflect on what has been an incredible 20 years in sport for me.

"This is a really proud moment for me and my family and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all of them that have followed me all over the country and world supporting me, normally spending money we didn’t have to deliver opportunities for me, for that I will always be grateful.

“Don’t ever give up on yourself.”