The Arsenal winger becomes an MBE after a great year which also saw her voted as the Nationwide International Player of the Year.

Rachel's award for services to sport comes as a huge boost to the women's game and she is just one of four people from football on the list, along with former West Ham striker Clyde Best, Lawrie McMenemy and Sydney Parkinson, physiotherapist of Barnoldswick Town FC in Lancashire.

"It's just amazing. I'm not the first person to be honoured for Women's football, there's been a few before me," Yankey told BBC Sport.

"But it's such a boost to be able to say women's football has come so far that we are getting recognised along with people like the cricketers. It's amazing to be up there."