Ann Budge said being named in King Charles’ New Year honors list was a “very nice” way to end her “amazing” time as Hearts chairman.
The 77-year-old Edinburgh businessman accepted the New Year’s Honors award alongside former Celtic owner Fergus McCann and Lisbon Lions Jim Craig.
Budge was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). McCann is a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), while Craig, 82, was also made an OBE.
‘It couldn’t be better than this’
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Ann Budge steps down as Hearts chairman, her legacy of helping save the club and its future, and Tony Bloom’s title lecture!
Budge took her beloved Hearts out of administration in 2014 and helped revitalize the club as they climbed to the top of the Scottish Premiership before ending an 11-and-a-half-year spell as chairman earlier this month.
“It couldn’t get any better than this, right?” She said she was made an OBE for services to sport and the community at the end of her term at Tynecastle.
Budge (top right) helped Brighton owner Tony Bloom (centre) secure a deal to invest in Hearts.
“It’s a very nice recognition. It’s something I never expected to get, so I’m very happy.
“When I first got involved in sport I was a football supporter who would only play on Saturdays and forget about the rest of the week.
“The last 12 years or so have been amazing, but one of the things I was glad to see mentioned was all the things we’ve been able to do for the community, and I think it’s the best of what football can offer.”
Ann Budge is now Hearts’ honorary president after stepping down as president after more than a decade at the club.
Budge said his being made an OBE should be recognition of the hard work of everyone who helped Hearts bounce back from strength to strength on and off the pitch following their financial collapse more than a decade ago.
“It’s not really about me, it’s about a whole group of people who have helped us do what we’ve done for the football club and the community, so I think it’s good for them too,” Budge said. She is still sinking in the fact that she is no longer at Hearts.
“It’s good for the supporters because they’ve been so kind to me. It’s great to be recognized for doing a good job for the club.”
Iconic Celtic Duo Award
Fergus McCann took over Celtic in 1994.
Fergus McCann made several attempts to invest in Celtic before leading a takeover in 1994, which rescued the club from serious financial risk and ended the long-term ownership of several family dynasties.
Celtic won just three trophies in McCann’s five years at the helm, but he redeveloped the stadium, modernized the club and then sold his shares for a healthy profit, leaving the foundation for the Glasgow club to dominate Scottish football.
The 84-year-old grew up in Kilsyth before moving to Canada and starting a successful golf holiday business.
McCann attended Celtic’s opening Premiership match this season.
Jim Craig was one of the Lisbon Lions who became the first English side to win the European Cup when Celtic beat Inter Milan in the Portuguese capital in 1967.
He joined Celtic from Glasgow University Football Club, where he was studying dentistry, and continued as an amateur until signing a professional contract in January 1965. He made his first-team debut at the age of 21 while continuing his studies.
Jim Craig and current Celtic captain Callum McGregor
Craig, from Govan, won 15 major trophies in 231 appearances for Celtic. He later played for South African clubs Hellenic and Sheffield Wednesday and had a brief spell as manager of Waterford before becoming a full-time dentist.
