England's Marcus Rashford has received an MBE, after being named in the Queen's Birthday Honours List for 2020.
The Manchester United striker, currently with the Three Lions squad preparing to face Belgium at Wembley on Sunday, receives the award for services to vulnerable children in the UK during COVID-19.
The 22 year old not only helped raise over £20m for charity FareShare this year, helping to feed 1000s of children across the UK but also directly addressed the Prime Minister about the decision to cancel school meal vouchers over the summer holiday period which resulted in a Government u-turn on the decision.
Speaking about the honour, Rashford said: "I’m incredibly honored and humbled. As a young Black man from Wythenshawe, never did I think I would be accepting an MBE, never mind an MBE at the age of 22.
"I feel honoured to have that title. Hopefully it inspires more people to do good things."
— England (@England) October 9, 2020
A word from @MarcusRashford MBE... 🙌 pic.twitter.com/c6o6fcVrwq
"This is a very special moment for myself and my family, but particularly my mum who is the real deserving recipient of the honor.
"The fight to protect our most vulnerable children is far from over. I would be doing my community, and the families I have met and spoken with, an injustice if I didn’t use this opportunity to respectfully urge the Prime Minister, who recommended me for this honour, to support our children during the October half term with an extension of the voucher scheme, as the furlough scheme comes to an end and we face increased unemployment.
"Another sticking plaster, but one that will give the parents of millions of children in the UK just one less thing to worry about.
"Let’s stand together in saying that no children in the UK should be going to bed hungry. As I have said many times before, no matter your feeling or opinion, not having access to food is NEVER the child’s fault."
Rashford wasn't the only England player to receive an MBE this year, as Para Lions captain Stephen Daley was also named in the list for his service to para football.
