Ninety one year old Ivor Powell was awarded an MBE for services to sport in the 2008 New Year Honours list.

The former Welsh international footballer, who played for Aston Villa, Queen’s Park Rangers and Blackpool, has worked as a football coach at the University of Bath for more than 30 years.

Last year his role as the world’s oldest working football coach was officially recognised as a Guinness World Record.

Ivor, who is a member of the coaching team at BGB Premier Division club Team Bath FC, said: "This is a real honour and a privilege. It was a big surprise when I got the letter.

"I’ve been in football for more than 70 years and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it.

"I’m 91 and I’ve still got something left in me to give. I’ll stay in the game as long as I’m enjoying it, and I’m really enjoying working with the lads at Team Bath," he added.

Ivor was born the seventh son of a seventh son on 5th July 1916 in Gilfach Bargoed in South Wales, and his middle name, Verdun, reflects the First World War battle that was raging at the time of his birth.

He started his working life down the mines in South Wales until being spotted playing for South Wales League side Bargoed aged 17, and joined Queen’s Park Rangers.

He worked as an RAF physical trainer during the Second World War, when he struck up a lasting friendship with Sir Stanley Matthews, who went on to be Ivor’s best man at his wedding to Joan Browell in 1943. Ivor and Stanley played in the same Blackpool team during the war, but found themselves on opposing sides during England v Wales international fixtures.

A tough tackler, in 1948 Ivor was transferred to Aston Villa, for £17,500, then a record fee for a half-back.

He played 14 times for Wales and also had stints as player-coach of Port Vale and Bradford City. He was one of Bill Shankly’s successors as manager at Carlisle and was trainer-coach at Don Revie’s famous Leeds United side, where he worked with the likes of Billy Bremner, Jackie Charlton and Norman Hunter.

Coaching spells followed at Bath City and at PAOK in Greece, before joining the University of Bath as football coach in the early 1970s.

In 2004 Ivor was inducted into the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame, joining other Welsh sporting greats like Gareth Edwards, Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson and Ian Rush.

In 2006, on the day he celebrated his 90th birthday, he learned his role as the world’s oldest working football coach had been recognised as a Guinness World Record.

Ivor is still actively involved in the football programme at the University of Bath as an assistant coach and President of BGB Premier Division side Team Bath FC.

He is part of a coaching team that includes manager Ged Roddy, head coach Andy Tillson, whose former clubs include QPR and Bristol Rovers, and academy director Brian Parker, a goalkeeper whose clubs included Crystal Palace, Wimbledon and Bristol Rovers.

"The word legend is often over-used, but that’s exactly what Ivor is to us," said Ged Roddy, Director of Sport at the University of Bath. "Ivor has been a dedicated servant to football for all of his life, and we’ve been lucky enough to have him working at the University of Bath for more than 30 years.

"He’s one of the true characters in sport and he still has a real passion and enthusiasm for football," Roddy added. "Successive generations of footballers at the University of Bath have benefited from Ivor’s experience and advice, and the current crop of young Team Bath players are no different.

Ivor is a real inspiration and this award is well and truly deserved," he added.

The University of Bath has one of the leading university sports departments in the UK. Under its Team Bath brand, its success is based on the expertise and dedication of staff, and its excellent facilities, used by the community and Olympic medal winners alike.