Bradford City legend Chris Kamara to receive his MBE on March 7

The former Bradford City player and manager was given an MBE for services to football, anti-racism and charity in King Charles III’s New Year’s Honours list.

Mr Kamara says he will receive his honour from a member of the Royal Family at an official ceremony at Windsor Castle on Tuesday, March 7.

Chris Kamara returned to Bradford to celebrate being awarded an MBE (Image: Newsquest)

To celebrate his honour, the broadcaster, nicknamed Kammy, visited Bradford City Hall on Friday, March 3 to meet with the Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Martin Love, and the Lady Mayoress, Mrs Helen Love. The Lord Mayor wore a claret and amber-striped Bradford City club tie for the broadcaster’s visit.

Mr Kamara says Bradford will always have a special place in his heart after his spell at Valley Parade in the mid-1990s. He initially joined Bradford City as a player, making 23 appearances and scoring three goals during the 1994/95 season.

Chris Kamara enjoys a cup of tea with the Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Martin Love (Image: Newsquest)

He said: “Picking up my MBE is good for the family.

“I think ‘why have I jumped to the front of the queue for an honour?’ “The charity work that I do helps them out with my face being involved. I’ve not been looking for an MBE. The racism work I do is something close to my heart.

Got invited to an audience with the Lord Mayor & Lady Mayoress at Bradford 🥳 couldn’t eat the cakes 🍰 due to my current “no fun” diet 🙈 pic.twitter.com/uKcRExSddQ

— Chris Kamara (@chris_kammy) March 3, 2023

“It’s amazing to come here and that Martin (the Lord Mayor) invited me here.

“It’s been a privilege to be involved in football for the last 49 years.

“I would not be where I am today without Bradford.

Chris Kamara pictured during his time as Bradford City manager in the mid-1990s (Image: Newsquest)

“The city means something special to me. I talked to the Mayor about when Bradford went to Blackpool for the second leg of the play-off semi-final in 1996.

“Then going to Wembley with 30,000 Bradfordians is something that I will always be attached to because of that. The fans remember the first time Bradford being there.”

Throughout March, the Lord Mayor of Bradford will be meeting and congratulating those in the district named in the New Year’s Honours list.

He will meet Helen Webb OBE who received the OBE for services to Equality, Inclusion and Wellbeing.

The Lord Mayor will also meet with Professor Barney Lerner, who received an MBE for services to the Environment in Bradford.

He will also meet Shadim Hussain, who received an MBE for services to Equality and to the Foster Care System and Marjorie Black, who received the BEM for services to Policing and to charity.