A SENSATIONAL year got a whole lot better for England netball captain Serena Guthrie when she was made an MBE in the Queen’s New Years Honours List.

The 29 year-old led England to bronze in this year’s Netball World Cup in Liverpool.  Last year she won gold with England at the Commonwealth Games.

She has called it a “true honour” and thanked everyone who has sent messages of congratulations.

She is currently taking a break from the sport and working with a charity called Sporting Family Change, based in Bath, Bristol and Somerset. 

An a recent interview, Guthrie revealed: “I’m going into that phase of life where over the next four years, I’d be lucky to go on for another four as a mid-quarter, especially the way I play.

“For me, it’s about my career and looking at the other opportunities around the game.”