Mr Alden was named in the King\u2019s New Year\u2019s Honours List back in January, with the award given for providing opportunities for adults, juniors and adults with disabilities and learning difficulties to play football in Knowle West. He told Bristol Live he was \u2018highly honoured\u2019 to receive the accolade.<\/p>\n
He and his wife Linda attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace as part of the award, but Mr Alden said he wanted to receive the honour in Knowle West, because his achievement in setting up and running Park Knowle FC was just as much down to his family and volunteers as it was his work.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m really honoured, highly honoured,\u201d he said. \u201cBecause you don\u2019t start out to do this, all you want to do in the beginning – which was 30 years ago now – is just get kids off the streets. So, 30 years on to receive this, it just blew my mind. I\u2019m so proud,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Mr Alden was invited to take on the job of setting up a community football club at The Park in Knowle West, and has grown it to include six junior teams for both boys and girls, and five teams for people with disabilities, that play at the pitches at the former secondary school site, and at Redcatch Park – where the club has revamped the pavilion to provide changing facilities.<\/p>\n
![\"Mike](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/0_BRI_PG_201025alden-262.jpg\")
Mike Alden chairman of Park Knowle FC in Bristol, , receives his British Empire Medal, Monday 20 October 2025, from the kings Lieutenant Governor Peaches Golding. (Image: PAUL GILLIS \/ Reach PLC)<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the second club I\u2019ve got up and running, so I\u2019ve been here for 15 years now, with the club I\u2019ve got. I could have had this anywhere, but here is where this club was born, so it was just right to do it here,\u201d he said, adding that there was \u2018no way\u2019, that being awarded the British Empire Medal would change him.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the end of the day, I grew up around Knowle West, you could take me to the other side of the world, I\u2019ll still have Knowle West in me,\u201d he joked.<\/p>\n
![\"Mike](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1_BRI_PG_201025alden-137.jpg\")
Mike Alden chairman of Park Knowle FC in Bristol, , receives his British Empire Medal, Monday 20 October 2025, from the kings Lieutenant Governor Peaches Golding. (Image: PAUL GILLIS \/ Reach PLC)<\/p>\n
Lord Lieutenant, Peaches Golding, said it was important to recognise the work of people like Mike Alden. \u201cRecipients like Mike do such excellent work for our communities – four football teams for boys, two for girls, five for people with disabilities – that\u2019s incredible, that\u2019s really significant.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo bring that to life in a way, that the community is here, that all of the young people that grew up under Mike\u2019s tutelage now become volunteers, or their grandchildren are giving back to the community, it\u2019s absolutely fantastic,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
READ MORE: Memorial trophy to honour stabbed teen football captain Max Dixon<\/a>READ MORE: SPOTY 2022: Bristol sport fans ‘proud’ as Mike Alden wins Unsung Hero Award<\/a><\/p>\n Mike\u2019s family are all called on to help out with Park Knowle, and have all been filled with Mike\u2019s passion for serving the community and volunteering. \u201cI\u2019ve got grandchildren that are actually coaching at the club now, so that says a lot really.<\/p>\n “To be honest, I think it just teaches them to be better in life. What I say to my grandkids is that it is nice to be nice. I hope that sticks with them forever, because it\u2019s always been my philosophy,” he added.<\/p>\n Mike was awarded the Unsung Hero at the 2022 BBC Sports Personality of the Year<\/a> for his work starting up teams for people with disabilities or learning difficulties, and more recently has been heavily involved in helping to create a legacy for one of the players at the club<\/a>.<\/p>\n