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7 months ago
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Mail Sport's Jeff Powell has received his MBE after being recognised in the New Year's Honours list for his contributions to sports journalism.
Powell's 57-year career with the Daily Mail has seen him cover 13 World Cups and countless world title boxing fights, and he was named alongside a host other names from the sporting world including Lionesses Millie Bright, Lauren Hemp, and Mary Earps, England rugby's Sir Bill Beaumont, and Ashes hero Stuart Broad.
The sportswriter received the honour at Windsor Castle on Tuesday in an investiture lead by Princess Anne.
Upon news breaking of Powell's honour, Lord Rothermere, chairman of the Daily Mail's owner DMGT, praised the 81-year-old as a 'great journalist and friend'.
'Jeff joined the Daily Mail the year before I was born, and I have been proud to work with him as a great journalist and friend throughout my 25 years as chairman,' he said.
Powell was named the Daily Mail's Chief Football Writer in 1971 and helped transform the paper's sports pages
Mail Sport's Jeff Powell was awarded his MBE at an investiture led by Princess Anne on Tuesday
The 81-year-old has enjoyed a matchless 57-year career at the Daily Mail covering an array of sports - including 13 World Cups
'I know my admiration for him is shared by many of the biggest names in British sport – Sir Alex Ferguson, Bryan Robson, Sir Clive Woodward, Barry McGuigan and Lennox Lewis, to name but a few.
'He was at the scene of both the Heysel and Hillsborough disasters, reporting for the Daily Mail, and in the aftermath led the campaign to replace standing terraces with all-seater stadia.
'It is no exaggeration to say this was a turning point for English football.'
Powell delivered the eulogy at Sir Bobby Moore's funeral, led the campaign to replace standing terraces after the Hillsborough and Heysel disasters, and has brought in countless scoops over his decades at the Mail.
Paul Dacre, editor-in-chief of Associated Newspapers, said: 'That Jeff broke so many extraordinary stories while retaining the enduring friendship of legions of legendary sportsmen is testament to his many qualities both as a journalist and as a human being.
'He represents sports reportage at its superlative best.'
A number of Powell's former colleagues and peers paid tribute to his success with the news
The legendary sportswriter celebrated his MBE alongside his wife Maria in December
England's World Cup-winning captain Bobby Moore (right) was a close friend of Powell (left), who wrote the inscription that features on his statue outside Wembley
In his tribute to Powell in December, one of his Mail Sport colleague's Jonathan McEvoy wrote that 'delight' at his distinction 'will not be confined to this office, but will ring like a peal of bells through countless homes where the Daily Mail is taken.'
As well as serving being made Chief Football Writer in 1971, Powell covered a range of other sports, including boxing - and was later the only UK journalist to be invited to Muhammed Ali's 70th birthday.
Powell offered counsel to Margaret Thatcher's government in the aftermath of the Heysel and Hillsborough disasters, and for the latter, led the journalistic submission into the inquiry led by Lord Justice Taylor.
He also served as chairman of the Football Writers' Association during two separate tenures.
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