Sir Denis Follows,
CBE
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations,
and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...
(13 April 1908 – 17 September 1983) was a British sports administrator. Between 1962 and 1973 he was Secretary of
the Football Association
The Football Association (also known as The FA) is the Sports governing body, governing body of association football in England and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Bailiwick of Guernsey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. Formed in 1863, it is the ...
(FA) and from 1977 was Chairman of the
British Olympic Association
The British Olympic Association (BOA) is the National Olympic Committee for the United Kingdom. It is responsible for organising and overseeing the participation of athletes from the Great Britain and Northern Ireland Olympic Team, at both ...
.
During his tenure as BOA Chairman, he was instrumental in ensuring that British competitors were able to choose whether or not to compete at the
1980 Moscow Olympics. The BOA had come under government pressure to withdraw the team
in protest at the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Follows led the party to Moscow as Team Commandant.
Follows was educated at the universities of
London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
and
Nottingham
Nottingham ( , East Midlands English, locally ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, city and Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area in Nottinghamshire, East Midlands, England. It is located north-west of London, south-east ...
, and was President of the
National Union of Students between 1931 and 1933. Having been appointed
Member of the Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations,
and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...
(MBE) in the
1950 Birthday Honours
The King's Birthday Honours 1950 were appointments in many of the Commonwealth realms of King George VI to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries. The appointments were made to celebrate the o ...
for his work as Secretary of the British Airline Pilots Associaton, Follows was promoted to
Commander of the Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations,
and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...
(CBE) in the
1967 New Year Honours
Events
January
* January 1 – Canada begins a year-long celebration of the 100th anniversary of Confederation, featuring the Expo 67 World's Fair.
* January 5
** Spain and Romania sign an agreement in Paris, establishing full consular and ...
, and
knighted
A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the Christian denomination, church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood ...
in the
1978 Birthday Honours
The Queen's Birthday Honours 1978 were appointments by many of the Commonwealth realms of Queen Elizabeth II to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries. The appointments were made to celebrate t ...
for services to sport.
[UK list:]
In January 1970, while serving as the FA secretary, Follows wrote to the Women's Football Association
The Women's Football Association (WFA) was the governing body of women's football in England. It was formed in 1969 and was disbanded in 1993, as responsibility for overseeing all aspects of the game of women's football in England passed to Th ...
(WFA) to inform them that the 1921 ban on women's football had been rescinded. He was later appointed an honorary life vice president of the WFA.
References
Bibliography
*
1908 births
1983 deaths
Presidents of the National Union of Students (United Kingdom)
Alumni of the University of London
Alumni of the University of Nottingham
The Football Association
Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
Knights Bachelor
People in sports awarded knighthoods
Association football people awarded knighthoods
{{England-footy-bio-stub