A LOCAL football legend has been recognised by the King in his first Birthday Honours list.

Richard 'Dick' Menzies Campbell, current Arbroath manager and former player and boss of both Dunfermline Athletic and Cowdenbeath, is receiving a British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to football and to the community in Angus.

The list includes more than 1,000 recipients and marks the public service efforts of individuals from across the UK.

“To receive the Empire Medal is fabulous,” Dick said.

“I’m very surprised and I don’t know what to do.

"My sister, Margaret, died six weeks ago and I just wish she was living to hear about it. She knew nothing about it because I only found out about a month ago.

“It’s a special honour because it’s from the people of Angus for my services to football.

"I took Brechin up three leagues, I took Forfar up two leagues and I took Arbroath up three leagues so I don’t think anybody will ever repeat that!"

He added: "I’m a humble miner’s boy from Hill of Beath, I’ve been in the game a long time.

"I’m starting my 36th year as a manager this weekend so it’s a nice way to start the new season.”

This year there has been a renewed focus on those who have had a positive impact on how society faces the challenging modern-day issues.

Dick, 69, famed for his bunnet, colourful language and winning football, was brought up in Hill of Beath with his twin brother Ian and now lives in Lochgelly.

He began his managerial career at Cowdenbeath in 1987 before moving onto the Pars, becoming Bert Paton's assistant as Dunfermline won promotion in the 1995-96 Scottish First Division season.

Dick took control of the team after Paton's resignation in 1999 but moved on within the same year, and went on to enjoy spells at Brechin, Partick Thistle, Ross County and Forfar.

He has been with Arbroath since 2016 and just missed out on promotion from the Championship with the Red Lichties, missing out on the last day of the 2021-22 campaign.

Arbroath chairman Mike Caird said: "I’m delighted for Dick that he has been honoured in this way, there are too few characters in Scottish football and having given over 40 years to the game that he loves it’s fitting he’s been rewarded in the King's honours list.

"The journey that the club is on, to be the best that we can be, needs successful, committed people and Dick's personality, enthusiasm, grit and determination to succeed helps drive the club forward."

The football legend, who won his own cancer battle, raised tens of thousands of pounds for a sensory garden in the care village in Lumphinnans, a quest he took on after the death of his mother, Elizabeth, in 2008.

She suffered from dementia and Dick has continued to raise money for charity, as well as owning and running three businesses with his brother Ian.