Scotland and Arsenal striker Julie Fleeting says she hopes her MBE appointment for services to women's football will boost the game's profile.
Fleeting, 27, told BBC Sport that her appointment in the Queen's Birthday Honours List came as a "big shock".
"It wasn't something that I expected so to get the letter through the post was a big shock and I'm delighted.
"By receiving this, everyone can see that women's football is now being taken seriously in this country."
Fleeting, started playing football at the age of five, and has enjoyed spells at Ayr United and San Diego Spirit.
The striker, who made her debut for Scotland against Wales as a 15-year-old in 1996, said she was pleasantly surprised to receive the honour.
Fleeting was encouraged to play football by her father, former Kilmarnock manager Jim Fleeting, who is now head of football development at the Scottish Football Association.
She has scored 103 goals in 104 games for the national side and hopes her MBE will raise the profile of women's football.
"In order for us to move forward, then we would like more support from elsewhere," she explained.
"In Scotland, the women's game is amateur and we work throughout the week and then play our games at the weekend.
"We would love to progress to be semi-professional. That would require more money being put into the women's game."
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