A scheme run by the FTL Futbol Hellenic League which rewards clubs for good behaviour has been given the royal seal of approval by Prince William.

The Prince, who is president of the Football Association, presented a Respect Award to the league’s general manager Brian King before last Saturday’s FA Cup final between Chelsea and Portsmouth at Wembley.

Prince William praised the work of the Hellenic League as part of the first ever Respect Awards ceremony at the national stadium.

The awards recognise clubs, leagues and individuals who have sought to promote high standards of behaviour both on and off the pitch.

A total of 12 awards were presented with the Hellenic receiving the prize for the National League System at steps 5-7.

Prince Williams said: “Unfashionable as the word may sound, sportsmanship underpins everything good and worthwhile about our national game.

“What is so important about these Respect and Fair Play Awards is that they acknowledge and reward those who both play fair and encourage fair play.”

King, who lives in Carterton, was delighted to collect the award.

He said: “Over the past five years since we brought into being our own programme of rewarding better behaved clubs.

“As a league, we have paid out more than £40,000 – working out at around £8,000 a season to those clubs that behave.

“We will carry on and enhance our programme. We have a monetary award from the FA which will be used to reward clubs, especially those that haven’t been too well-behaved in the past and have seen the light.

“All the hard work we’ve put in has been worth it.”