BOB MURRAY'S efforts in leading Sunderland back to football's top table were given the Royal seal of approval last night when he was awarded the CBE in the New Year's Honours List.

Almost two decades after first joining the board at Roker Park, the chairman was rewarded for "services to Sunderland Football Club and to the community".

The CBE recognises Murray's achievement in not only overseeing the club's transformation from a Third Division side in 1987-88 to a Premiership force, but their move to the 48,000-capacity Stadium of Light.

Murray said: "I am absolutely thrilled and delighted to receive this honour from Her Majesty The Queen.

"I feel extremely privileged and see this award as being not just for me personally but for my family and friends who have supported and helped me reach my goals and succeed.

"It is recognition, not only of my career, but also of the wonderful people of Sunderland and those in the world of football with whom I have worked for nearly 19 years."

Murray, 55, has been a Sunderland fan since he first went to watch the club play Wolverhampton Wanderers when he was just nine years old.

Born in Consett, he left school aged 15 and was out of work for a year before becoming an office boy in the town's ironworks.

Murray went to night school to qualify as an accountant and made his millions through Springram - a firm that sold kitchen and bathroom fittings that had the fastest growth rate of any company in Britain in the 1980s.

His love of Sunderland prompted him to make a financial commitment to the club in 1984 as he became director, and two years later he replaced Tom Cowie as chairman.

Murray said: "When I first left school I was unemployed for a year and that had a profound effect on my life.

"I had to attend night classes four nights a week to qualify as an accountant but that also made me very determined and single-minded to succeed."

The club's community programme, spearheaded by Murray, now sees over 250 schools a week benefit from the link-up, and in 1998 the Football Task Force report heralded SAFCommunity as "A blueprint for British football".

Murray, who was the driving force behind Sunderland's move to the Stadium of Light in 1997, said: "When I took over the chairmanship at the club I realised that there was much to do.

"But most importantly I knew that it must play a significant role in the community and lives of local people.

"The club's ethos is all about social inclusion and ensuring football is affordable and accessible for all supporters, whatever their age, sex or social background.

"I am delighted to be able to work for the benefit of the people of this region and the City of Sunderland."

Murray appointed Peter Reid as manager in March 1995 and the two led the club to their most successful period in modern times, twice coming close to qualifying for the UEFA Cup.

But Murray sacked his close friend in October and Reid's replacement, Howard Wilkinson, is currently struggling to preserve Sunderland's Premiership status.

The club's recent problems were put to one side by Sunderland chief executive Hugh Roberts last night, however, as he led the tributes to Murray.

He said: "We are all thrilled for Bob that he has received this well deserved honour in recognition of his contribution to Sunderland Football Club and for the vast amount of community work he has undertaken in the region.

"Bob takes great pride in the City of Sunderland and being from the North-East, as well as having an immense passion for football and all it means to people in the area.

"Over the years, he has shown great vision and determination to overcome social exclusion and to harness the power of football to give something back to the community."

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