Martin Blondel, Kevin Sinfield and Steve Ball received honours for their work with charties and communities within and outside of the sport this week.

Martin Blondel MBE
Long time Steve Prescott Foundation General Manager has been honoured for his services to the community.

"I am absolutely overwhelmed and humbled to receive an MBE for services to the St Helens Community during COVID 19.
It has been an extremely difficult time for everyone during this pandemic.
This award is dedicated to my beautiful caring mother Val Blondel who sadly left us in January due to COVID. My mum like most was taken far too early.
To be recognised by the Queen in this manner is phenomenal and has not completely sunk in. I am feeling uncomfortable at receiving all the plaudits and would much rather be in the background pushing more inspirational people forward into the spotlight.

This MBE is for everyone who contributed and supported The Eccleston Arms Bar & Grill Essential Items project, none more so than the proprietor Andrew Mikhail, the owner of the Mikhail Group. Andrew fully backed my vision and made the improbable possible within hours. Andrew has also had a long battle against COVID and I am so pleased that he has come through the other side with a long recovery ahead. I want to share this award with Andrew, he is an exceptional person along with his great team at Mikhail Group."

Steve Ball
Is general manager of the sport’s Benevolent Fund, has been made an MBE for services to rugby league charities

A former chairman of Hunslet, chief executive of Hull FC and Batley Bulldogs and director of both the RFL and Leeds Rhinos, Ball said he is “truly humbled” by his award "I think it’s a reflection of the values of rugby league as a sport, I’ve said before that we may not be the richest in the orthodox sense, because of the communities where the game has been strongest – but we are rich in values, and we take care of our own. That has been the role of the Benevolent Fund since it was established and it has been an honour and a privilege to work with so many brave people as they have come to terms with personal tragedy."

Kevin Sinfield
Following his MBE in 2014, Kev has now been awarded an OBE for his ongoing work with the MND chairties.

The legendary former Rhinos skipper, who captained Leeds to seven Super League titles, said: “It’s just a huge honour. I think the work we’ve done for Rob in particular – and I say we – it’s all to do with that.  I just feel really honoured by it, it’s absolutely for all those people who’ve given a little bit of themselves towards helping Rob and making his journey a little bit easier and then, of course, to all of the Burrow family. It’s for them too."

RLFANS.COM Congratulates them all as highly worthy recipients of the prestigious awards.