John Greig has been awarded a CBE after being recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours.
Greig, 80, spent his entire playing career at Rangers and in 1999 was voted by supporters as “The Greatest Ever Ranger”. Greig has also served the club as a manager and director, alongside the ambassadorial role he currently occupies.
Greig dedicated the award, which he admits came as a surprise, to the club that he's served all his life.
“It’s most unexpected at my age,” he said. “I feel humbled because there are so many people more deserving of this than me.
“Nevertheless, I’m very honoured and proud.
“I didn’t know it was in the pipeline. I just got word from London a couple of weeks ago. I don’t even know how they got my address but they notified me by letter.
“My wife opened the letter and we got a shock because it was unexpected.
“One of the reasons I’ve got this is because I’ve managed to spend all my life with a great club in Rangers.
“The club and the fans have given me the support and the respect which has obviously put me in line to get this, which I appreciate very much.
“It’s a big honour and I look upon it as an honour to the club as well as myself.”
Greig was not the only Scottish football personality recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours list, with Arbroath manager Dick Campbell also the recipient of an award.
Campbell, 69, is one of Scottish football’s most-recognisable figures having spent over three decades in management.
He was given a Medal of the Order of the British Empire “for services to Association Football and to the community in Angus”.
“To receive the Empire Medal is fabulous,” said Campbell, who’s also had spells in charge of Cowdenbeath, Dunfermline, Brechin, Partick Thistle, Ross County and Forfar.
“I’m very surprised and I don’t know what to do. My sister died six weeks ago and I just wish she was living to hear about it. She knew nothing about it because I only found out about a month ago.
“It’s a special honour because it’s from the people of Angus for my services to football. I took Brechin up three leagues, I took Forfar up two leagues and I took Arbroath up three leagues so I don’t think anybody will ever repeat that!
“I’m a humble miner’s boy from Hill of Beath, I’ve been in the game a long time. I’m starting my 36th year as a manager this weekend so it’s a nice way to start the new season.”
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