League hails Lee honour

Lee, pictured, was among 1,196 people from all walks of life recognised on New Year's Eve for their achievements and services to the nation and their communities.

The former player, manager and administrator, now 78, will be heading to Buckingham Palace with his wife Shirley-Ann in 2016 to be honoured for his services to football.

EVO-STIK NPL chairman Mark Harris said: "Brian's honour is a richly deserved, not just for the work he has done most recently for the betterment of the National League but for Non-League football and the game in general over many, many years.

"Everybody always forgets that Brian was also a great manager in Non-League as well as being a fantastic servant of the game so it is great to see someone held in such high regard at this level being recognised in this way."

After standing down as chairman of the Football Conference at the end of last season, Lee succeeded Bill King as the president in June. Soon afterwards, he was honoured with a lifetime achievement award by The Non-League Paper for more than half a century of devotion to the game.

The youngest ever FA staff coach after his promising early career was cut short by injury, he became the first manager of England's semi-professional side in 1976 after managing the Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre as well as becoming Wycombe Wanderers’ manager in 1968.

During his eight years in charge of the then Isthmian League club, they won back-to-back titles on two separate occasions in 1971 and 1972, and 1974 and 1975.

Success also came in the FA Cup when they took Middlesbrough to a third round replay. Lee also went on to serve the club as chairman, overseeing their move from Loakes Park to Adams Park and appointing Martin O'Neill as the manager who took the club into the Football League in 1993.

A keen golfer and founder of The Football Conference Trust, Lee was also in charge at Lilleshall when Sir Alf Ramsey’s England trained there ahead of their World Cup triumph, taking particular pride in organising films for the players to watch after training and games.

In a statement released by the National League, Brian Barwick, Lee's successor as chairman, said: "Brian has truly been a shining and inspirational light in his service to all of us in the game. Whilst that service has been over many many years we know he has enjoyed every minute.

"I proudly join with all my fellow directors, staff and of course our member clubs in paying tribute to a selfless servant, who has been rightly recognised with this honour."

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