Step aside Luke Littler: Here are the most bizarre sporting honours

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Some earn a title for achievements of indisputable brilliance. Some lobby tirelessly for recognition and attempt to fast-track the process, ironically by joining a long queue. Some are simply talented at mental arithmetic and tuning out the noise of crowds, many of whom are dressed as Papa Smurf and singing a song about Kolo Touré.

Congratulations, then, to Luke Humphries and Luke Littler, given MBEs in the King's Birthday Honours List. Huge reward for their years of toil to reach the top of their sport, all 18 of them in Littler's case. "For services to darts" is not a justification which has appeared often in the history of the honours system, although knighthoods were introduced by the Normans. Every chance they rewarded similarly impressive work with the arrows to the chap who saw off King Harold.

Litter said: "This is an amazing and unexpected honour but one which I am very grateful for. To receive a recognition like this is something I had never thought would be possible, and it is a proud moment.

"It's unbelievable what I've done for my sport; I'm happy, my family is happy and I can't wait to receive it. Congratulations to Luke Humphries on receiving an MBE, too - he's a fantastic ambassador for darts, and although he's a rival, I can't wait to partner him in the World Cup this weekend."

The Lukes join fellow darts stars Fallon Sherrock, awarded the MBE two years ago, Trina Gulliver, Keith Deller, Eric Bristow and John Lowe, recognised with the same in 2018 for his achievements in darts, charity work and walking on to Whitesnake's Here I Go Again. There are a few other surprising names when perusing the list of honoured sportspeople.

Of course we all share fond memories of John Beresford's role as the only sane member of Kevin Keegan's entertainers, does that merit an MBE? Perhaps not, but it was his anti-racism work which was being recognised. Cricketer Sir Neville Cardus never played in a first-class match but was an era-defining journalist of his sport. Good news for Nick Hoult. And there is still some minor rancour about Sir Gareth Southgate's knighthood from those who disliked his England reign, although Thomas Tuchel is doing his best to place his achievements into context.

But who are the most unusual honour recipients in sporting history?

Ronald Ross

You deserve recognition for being the best at your sport, without question. But just how far down the list of popular sports are we going with honours these days? Ross, as you are no doubt aware, is a pretty big deal in the world of shinty, even described as the "Ronaldo of the Glens". His Messi equivalent is seething.