Alan Hodgkinson described the MBE he received at Buckingham Palace as "the icing on the cake" on what has been a fantastic career in football.

Oxford United's veteran goalkeeping coach was presented with the medal by Prince Charles, who said the award, for the service Hodgy has given to football over six decades, was "well deserved".

The 71-year-old former Sheffield United and England stopper was one of the first specialist goalkeeping coaches in the world, and he has gone on to discover and train some of Europe's greats, including Peter Schmeichel, Neville Southall and Peter Shilton.

Hodgkinson said his day at the Palace had been memorable.

And it was made even more so by United chairman Nick Merry turning up at his London hotel and driving him in style through the gates of Buckingham Palace to the ceremony.

"It was a super experience and I really enjoyed the day," he said.

"The chairman surprised me by turning up at the hotel and driving us right into the Palace grounds, into the quadrangle, which was really nice.

"Prince Charles presented me with the medal and he'd obviously been informed, because he knew all about me, about when I started and everything.

"He congratulated me and said 'you deserve this medal for all you've done for, and given, to football', and that made me very proud."

Hodgkinson was one of around 120 men and women receiving MBEs and OBEs from the last New Year's Honours list., and there were also a couple of knighthoods. Also honoured from the world of sport was Rachael Heyhoe-Flint, the former England women's cricket captain.

Hodgkinson will continue to be United's goalkeeping coach next season, despite turning 72 in August.

He said: "People call it longevity, I call it enjoying what you're doing. I've been in football 55 seasons, and I'm still enjoying it as much as when I started.

"I've played with some great players, like Duncan Edwards, Bobby Charlton and so on, and trained many great goalkeepers, like Schmeichel, Southall and Shilton. They are memories which you keep with you for ever.

"And people shouldn't forget our own goalkeeper at Oxford, Billy Turley. He is technically one of the best I've worked with, organisation-wise and strength-wise, and is undoubtedly one of the best in the lower divisions.

"You only have to look at our goals record, 29 goals conceded the season before last, and only 30-odd last year. That's an unbelievable record, and compares with the best in the Premier League. And the Conference is a very hard, competitive league.

"It's been a tremendous journey for me and this award is the icing on the cake. It's not just for my family, but for all the people I've worked with over the years - the players, coaches, managers and supporters.

"I had one card waiting for me yesterday from a very special manager, which said 'Congratulations Alan, to a guy who has done so much for the game, and got so little in return'.

"I have to admit, that brought a lump to my throat."