Wales and Tottenham Hotspur legend Cliff Jones has been awarded an MBE in the King's Birthday Honours list. The forward scored 159 goals in 378 appearances for Spurs after joining from Swansea in 1958 for £35,000, a transfer that marked his entry into first-team football. His uncle Bryn's world-record move from Wolves to Arsenal in 1938 set the family precedent for elite football.

Jones played 580 club games between 1952 and 1970, starting at Swansea where he netted 54 goals in 193 appearances. He earned recognition through a lifetime achievement trophy at the Sport Wales awards in 2013, the same year he was inducted into the National Football Hall of Fame. His career spanned the club game's transformation from amateurism to professionalism.

The honour recognises his contributions to Welsh and English football across nearly two decades. Meanwhile, former WRU chief executive Roger Lewis received an MBE for veteran services, while Tom Hooper and Steve Borley were also recognised for educational and economic contributions in Wales.

Jones's legacy endures through his goal-scoring record and influence on Welsh football during its formative years.