A CHAMPION of the sport of hockey, who hails from Somerset, has been awarded an MBE as part of the New Year's Honours List.

Katie Dodd, from Somerset, has been recognised for services to hockey, having been involved in the sport for the best part of 40 years.

England Hockey passed on its congratulations, and said that Dodd's roles within the sport had been "hugely significant".

As a player, she won 26 caps for England in the 1970s and 80s, and captained her country to the bronze medal at the European Indoor Championships.

Off the pitch, she dedicated more than 25 years to Ealing Ladies Hockey Club, and became a highly respected administrator at at club, county, regional and national levels.

Dodd was a member of the England Hockey board from 2008 to 2015, and was the first ever chairman of the Hockey Museum, based in Woking, from 2011.

The museum has gone from strength to strength under her stewardship, now housing around 75,000 items and undertaking numerous projects to accurately catalogue the history of the England and Great Britain international teams.

In 2018 Dodd became one of only eight people to have been awarded the England Hockey Member of Honour, the highest accolade awarded by the sport's governing body.

England Hockey's statement adds: "Katie's contribution to the sport has been quite remarkable, as is her spirit, love for the game and willingness to help others for the good of hockey.

"She fully deserves to be made an MBE and sincere congratulations go to her from all at England Hockey."

Somerset County Gazette:

ACTION: Katie Dodd puts in a tackle during England's match with the USA at the 1979 World Cup (pic: England Hockey)

England Hockey chief executive Nick Pink said: “This is a worthy award for Katie after a lifetime of service to the sport.

"Her contribution to the running of hockey is one of the most significant that anybody has made in recent years, so it is only right that she is recognised in this manner.

"In the past decade she has helped create a Hockey Museum that the entire game can benefit from for many years to come.

"On both a personal and professional level I would like to offer congratulations to her, and this is a spark of good news as we all enter 2021 with renewed hope for what is ahead.”