FORMER Gills assistant manager Alan Hodgkinson has been made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the New Year Honours List, for services to football.

Mr Hodgkinson, who worked with then manager Gerry Summers, was also goalkeeping coach for the club.

He played for England five times during the 1957-58 season and never lost, winning four times with one draw. He is regarded as one of the best goalkeeping coaches in the game, having worked with Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel and Everton’s Neville Southall.

He is presently goalkeeping coach at Oxford United.