MIDDLESBROUGH chairman Steve Gibson received the OBE on Friday from Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge.

Gibson –who helped save Boro from liquidation by forming a consortium in 1986 – was rewarded for the commitment he has shown to the club and the town.

He was one of a number of recipients who visited Buckingham Palace to receive their awards.

In May, Middlesbrough fans set up a Parliamentary petition to get Mr Gibson a knighthood.

Earlier this week, Mr Gibson's daughter Victoria tweeted about the impending visit to London.

"There's a huge thing happening on Friday and I'm absolutely elated to see my #1 get his OBE," she wrote.

The 58-year-old self-made millionaire was brought up in the Park End area of Middlesbrough and became the town's youngest ever Labour councillor aged 21.

Two years later he set up Bulkhaul, transporting liquids, powders and gases for chemical companies.

As a lifelong Middlesbrough fan, attending matches with Sky Sports match summariser Chris Kamara at Ayresome Park, he joined the board as the club's youngest director at the age of 26, later forming the consortium which saved it, and taking over as chairman in 1994.

Middlesbrough fans have been tweeting their appreciation for Mr Gibson's efforts down the years.