Former Footballer Graeme Souness Awarded CBE for Contributions to Sport and Charity

Graeme Souness has been appointed a CBE in recognition of his services to football and charitable endeavors. The former prominent player for Rangers and Liverpool stated that his involvement in charity fundraising had allowed people to see “the real me,” as he received the accolade from the Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle. Throughout his extensive tenures with both clubs, Souness secured numerous trophies, having served them in roles as both a player and a manager. He also represented Scotland in three World Cups. More recently, however, he has served as vice president for Debra UK, an organization dedicated to increasing awareness of epidermolysis bullosa (EB). This condition encompasses a range of genetic skin disorders characterized by skin that blisters and tears with minimal contact. His engagement with the charity began six years prior, and he contributed to raising £1.5 million for additional research into EB by participating in a swimming challenge across the English Channel last year. Following the ceremony, he informed the PA news agency that his aim was to “be a decent human being.” He elaborated, stating: “I think when you go to work, whatever job you do, you become quite a different person to what you really are, certainly in the demands of football management and being a football player.” He continued: “I am an emotional man, and when I get involved in this charity and when I’m around these poor children, I am emotional.” He added: “Now that I’ve been involved for six years, I get it now – I understand the plight of these children, and it’s just pushing me to do more and more for them if I can.” In 2023, he conveyed to the BBC that epidermolysis bullosa represented the “cruellest disease out there” and revealed his motivation to undertake the Channel swim stemmed from an encounter with Isla Grist, a teenager from the Scottish Highlands. Isla, who resides in Black Isle, close to Inverness, has lived with the condition since birth, necessitating her to be bandaged from head to toe. These bandages require changing three times weekly through a highly painful process. Souness visibly struggled to hold back tears as he characterized Isla as “the most unique person I’ve ever met” and commended her courage. Subsequent to the Windsor Castle event, the 71-year-old remarked that he regarded his accomplishments in fundraising as being “up there with European Cups,” referencing the trophy he secured three times with Liverpool. He stated that his involvement in football had allowed him to “ticked that box” and that his current focus was on an upcoming Debra fundraising initiative scheduled for May 2025. For this event, he intends to swim the English Channel once more, followed by a bicycle ride from Dover to Westminster. Souness, who also spent years as a television pundit in the sport, mentioned that he exchanged jokes with the Prince of Wales regarding Liverpool’s victory over Aston Villa, the team the Prince supports, during the recent weekend.