West Bromwich Albion Ladies' founder honoured by Prince William

Helen Fisher was one of the 150 to be honoured at Buckingham Palace as part of the Football Association's 150th anniversary celebrations.

What makes Rubery-based Helen's efforts even more remarkable is that she has been battling breast cancer for the past nine years.

In 1998 Helen played an instrumental role in establishing the Sporting Club Albion Ladies team, then known as West Bromwich Albion Ladies, working as a volunteer for 11 years before becoming a part-time member of staff in 2009.

She retired from her role as secretary at the Albion Foundation, West Bromwich Albion's charitable arm which runs Sporting Club Albion, last summer.

At the Buckingham Palace event, The Duke of Cambridge, in his official capacity as President of The Football Association, presented Helen with a medal to mark her achievements.

She said: "It was certainly a special day. To be there as a guest has so much more opulence than being there as a tourist. Prince William shook my hand and said 'well done Helen'. It was a surreal moment.

"It was humbling to know that I was one of 150 to have received the award and everyone fully deserved their awards."

Speaking about her battle with cancer, she added: "Although I continue to receive chemotherapy, my treatment has been girls' football. It has been a distraction from what I have been going through. I will keep fighting and my cup is always three-quarters full."