GARETH MCAULEY was ‘proud’ and ‘humbled’ to be awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours List.

The Rangers defender has been recognised for his services to football in Northern Ireland after a glittering career for club and country.

McAuley moved to Ibrox in the summer and said: “It was very unexpected and I was surprised and shocked but humbled and delighted with and very proud too.

“It’s strange...you do what you do, play football and other things that go along with it you do for people because you can and you don’t expect anything for it. So it was all a bit of a surprise but I’m very, very proud of it.

“I will be notified six weeks in advance of when I will attend the ceremony. It’ll be some time between now and June.

“The club got an email asking me to call and I made the call and basically they asked if I would accept the award and I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. It’s a great honour.”