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A trio of Women in Football have been recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours List, announced on Friday 8 June.

Leading the way is Roisin Wood, Chief Executive at Kick It Out, who has been honoured with an OBE for services to tackling discrimination and exclusion in football.

Former Northern Ireland captain Sara Booth (services to women's football) and Welsh international Jess Fishlock (services to women's football & the LGBT community) were both awarded an MBE.

Speaking to the KIO website, Roisin said: “I’m honoured to be appointed OBE, but my work for this organisation has never been about awards or recognition – I am here to tackle discrimination in football, to make it a more welcoming place for everyone, regardless of background and to dismantle outdated practices and attitudes that have no place in the game in the 21st century.

“I am excited for the upcoming season, and excited for the years ahead – our work never stops, and the fight for equality in football has a long way to go yet.”

Sara, an international for 20 years before becoming the IFA's women's domestic football manager, was heavily influential in the IFA's 2013 SCORE Pilot Project, which received the UEFA HatTrick award for Best Women's Football Development Project. She took to Twitter to share that she was "So proud and honoured" to have the award.

Completing the trio of winners is Seattle Reign FC's Welsh midfielder Jess, the first player to win 100 international caps for her country.

She beamed: "It's a great honour to be recognised for something like this. It's pretty cool. To be recognised for women's football and the LGBT community means a lot to me as it's close to my heart. I hope to keep having such a positive influence on that."

Congratulations to all three - a real hat-trick of heroines!

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