Scott Rogers wins British Empire Medal for disability sport work

Former England Amputee National Football Team head coach Scott Rogers has received a British Empire Medal in the King’s Birthday Honours 2026 for his services to disability sport and amputee football. The award recognizes his coaching success, advocacy and role in growing the game across the UK.

Why it matters: - The British Empire Medal recognizes Scott Rogers’ impact beyond coaching and puts a national spotlight on disability sport. - The honour reflects the growing profile of amputee football in the UK and the wider value of inclusive sport pathways. - Rogers’ award also underscores how elite performance, advocacy and grassroots development can shape a sport’s long-term growth.

What happened: - Scott Rogers, the former head coach of England’s amputee national football team, was awarded the British Empire Medal in the King’s Birthday Honours 2026. - The award recognizes his services to disability sport and his contribution to the growth of amputee football in the United Kingdom. - Rogers is from Blackpool, Lancashire. - The honours announcement was dated July 4, 2026.

The details: - Rogers spent more than two decades building his coaching philosophy through education, grassroots football and elite academy development. - He worked as a qualified physical education teacher and served as head of physical education at St John Rigby College. - Rogers also coached in the youth development systems of Blackburn Rovers and Wigan Athletic. - He joined the England Amputee Football Association coaching staff in late 2020. - Rogers helped prepare England for the 2021 European Amputee Football Championships in Poland and the 2022 Amputee Football World Cup in Turkey. - Following organisational restructuring, Rogers became interim head coach in December 2022 and permanent head coach in April 2023. - England won the inaugural European Amputee Football Federation Nations League in Kraków, Poland, months after he took charge. - England beat Poland, Spain and reigning European and world champions Turkey to finish unbeaten and claim the country’s first major international amputee football title in 34 years. - The National Football Museum invited Rogers to unveil the Nations League trophy as part of its permanent collection. - Rogers has also worked as a television pundit and match analyst to bring amputee football to wider audiences. - The media contact listed for the announcement was Scott Rogers BEM, with the website More information.

Between the lines: - The award signals a wider shift in how disability sport is being recognized in mainstream football circles. - Rogers’ message centers on visibility, access and confidence-building, not just results on the field. - His coaching profile combines high-performance standards with an inclusion-first approach, which likely helped amplify the reach of amputee football. - The honour also suggests that national recognition can help drive more volunteers, sponsors and players toward the sport.

What's next: - Rogers said he plans to keep promoting amputee football through mentoring, player development, work with governing bodies and wider inclusion efforts. - He wants the recognition to help encourage more people to watch, volunteer, sponsor or play. - The amputee football community is expected to use the award as a platform to push for more awareness and participation across the UK and beyond.

The bottom line: - Scott Rogers’ BEM is both a personal honour and a broader win for disability sport, validating the growing stature of amputee football in Britain.