Graeme Souness says charity work shows 'real me' as he's awarded CBE for football and fundraising

Graeme Souness hopes his charity work has revealed "the real me" to the public as he received a CBE for his contributions to football and charitable causes.

The former Newcastle United manager, who represented Scotland in three World Cups, was honoured by the Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle on Tuesday. Souness, who has enjoyed success both on the pitch and as a pundit, is also known for his role as vice-president of Debra UK, a charity supporting individuals with epidermolysis bullosa (EB), a condition causing the skin to blister easily.

His involvement over the past six years includes participating in a swimming challenge across the English Channel, which raised £1.5 million for research into EB. Speaking to PA news agency, Souness said: "I think when you go to work, whatever job you do, you become quite a different person to what you really are, certainly in the demands of football management and being a football player."

READ MORE:The Harvey Barnes 'problem' at Newcastle and 15 minutes of magic that saved Magpies

READ MORE:Newcastle care leavers call for equality motion to make city more inclusive

He added, "I am an emotional man, and when I get involved in this charity and when I’m around these poor children, I am emotional."

Souness has opened up about his personal transformation since leaving the football pitch, saying: "You’ve seen a real me. I’m not someone who’s pumped up with adrenaline wants to go to war with everyone on a football pitch – that was my workplace. Now I’m trying to be a decent human being."

The football legend attributes the accolade to a collective effort with his Debra charity colleagues and cherishes it as one of his top accomplishments, equating it to "up there with European Cups".

When questioned about potentially returning to football management or punditry, Souness emphasised his dedication to charity work, particularly his upcoming Debra fundraising challenge which includes a swim across the Channel followed by a cycle from Dover to Westminster in May. "The aim is to get more awareness and hopefully raise a similar amount of money," he stated.

He passionately spoke about the plight of children affected by the condition Debra supports, highlighting their daily struggles: "Every day is a groundhog day for them, they suffer unimaginable pain and of course there’s a mental aspect to it as well."

Souness firmly placed his focus on his charitable efforts, asserting: "That’s where my focus is right now – it’s not coming back to football. I’ve been there, ticked that box. This is about raising awareness and raising money for Debra."

During his investiture ceremony, Souness also shared a light-hearted moment with Prince William, an Aston Villa supporter, discussing Premier League football. Recounting their conversation, Souness said: "He’s still hurting a wee bit from my team (Liverpool) beating his team last weekend, but I reassured him that Villa are certainly on the right path."