Scott Rogers, a former coach of England's Amputee National football team, has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) in the King's Birthday Honours List. The 47-year-old from Haydock changed his career after a conversation with a friend, leaving roles at the academies of Blackburn Rovers, Wigan Athletic and Accrington Stanley to coach the national amputee side.
Career change sparked by conversation
Rogers first heard about the amputee team through a friend who had previously coached at national level. Speaking to the players reaffirmed his decision. He said: "Speaking to the players changed my mentality, because it's almost like a taboo subject. If you see somebody who's only got one leg, it's 'oh you can't mention anything about it'. Well actually, they were the opposite."
He added: "They like people asking questions and being intrigued about it. We have some cancer survivors, some who had been in accidents. One particular lad had lost his leg on a rollercoaster, others were born with limb deficiencies or no limbs. The more you get to know them, the more you start to understand their personalities and their own individual journeys, which is incredibly inspiring."
Nations League victory ends 34-year trophy drought
Under Rogers' guidance, the team achieved a historic victory in the Nations League in 2023, defeating Turkey, Poland and Spain to win a major trophy for the first time in 34 years. He helped raise the profile of amputee football significantly through memorable wins in tournaments worldwide.
Reflecting on his time with the team, Rogers said: "Spending time with them and starting to understand the challenges they face not only on the pitch but off it as well. Being in that kind of environment made me understand a lot more about what these people have been through and continue to go through. In terms of differences with professional football, the biggest compliment I can pay this group of players is that you forget they're amputees sometimes."
Daughter's school project led to BEM nomination
Rogers left his role in December 2024 after two years to focus on his daughter Sophie's football career at Liverpool's Under 15s. Sophie was instrumental in his BEM nomination. He explained: "Apparently somebody came into her school as part of an RE project where they talk about OBEs, MBEs, knighthoods, BEMs. And what the children had to do as part of this talk was fill in a spoof nomination and my daughter did it on me with the amputees national team."
The lady at the school read it and thought it could be pushed forward, contacting Rogers' wife Nicola to put the application together. Rogers said: "I didn't have a clue about it until it dropped on the door and said I've been awarded a BEM. It's an incredible story and it makes it a lot more special being nominated by my daughter too."
Finding out about the honour, he told the ECHO: "There was the royal stamp on the front of the letter, so my first reaction was what the bloody hell's this? My mind was racing with all sorts of things and then as soon as I opened it up, the first paragraph literally said 'you've been awarded a BEM for services to disability sport', which was absolutely incredible."
Ceremony and garden party invitation
Scott will be awarded the BEM at a ceremony in Liverpool on October 27 and has also been invited to a garden party with Nicola at Buckingham Palace next year.
