Honorary doctorate for leading figure in English women's football

The award recognises Powell's outstanding contribution to the performance, professionalisation and perception of women’s football in the UK. She has also provided a key role model of a black woman in high-profile leadership positions, including managing England's Lionesses.

Powell's efforts have contributed to a surge in grass roots uptake in girls’ and women's football which is now getting a boost from the success of England's Lionesses in reaching the final of the Women's EUROS. Women's football is now in the top 5 sports across the UK in terms of percentage growth in participation, and the number one female participation sport in England.

Hope Powell - Brighton and Hove Albion women's team manager

Hope Powell playing for England - courtesy of FIFA

Powell has notched up impressive personal achievements in sport performance, coaching and exercise science, alongside a distinguished playing career which included making her debut for England aged just 16, and going on to represent her country on 66 occasions. She then became the first full-time coach of the England Women’s football team - both the first woman and first black person to manage an England international team Powell also coached the GB 2012 Olympic Team.

In 2003, meanwhile, Powell became the first woman to achieve the UEFA Pro Licence, the highest football coaching qualification available. Under Hope’s administration, player central contacts were initiated which allowed elite women players to finally earn a living as full-time footballers.

In her degree acceptance speech, Powell said: "Little did I appreciate at the tender age of 11 that I would have the privilege of working full-time in the world of women’s football - 20 years ago this would have only been a pipe dream. Then from the age of 16 representing my country 66 times, and going on to manage our national team at the age of 31, for 15 years. And today I am honoured to manage Brighton women’s team!

"I have witnessed and been part of the huge advances in the women’s game… it has progressed from a sport not readily available to young girls, to the number one female participation sport in England… from a game where I had to pay to play… to a game where players are now paid a good wage and have professional contracts. A game that was never televised, to a game that has broken viewing figures for women’s sport…a game where few showed up to watch, to where attendances have equalled and rivalled the men’s game…. The Euros has been real proof of that …attendances and viewing figures have smashed all previous records!! If you haven’t watched women’s football, I truly believe you are missing something special.

"I have also witnessed on my personal journey the importance of having the courage of your convictions and the convictions to follow them through. My message to my fellow graduands - don’t be afraid to set yourself goals, and have the desire, belief and will to follow them through. Any set back is merely a set up for a comeback!!... And in the words of Adidas... impossible is nothing!"

Powell has also brought football success to Brighton & Hove in her role as manager of Brighton & Hove Albion's women's team from 2017. This includes overseeing the team's ascent to the Women’s Super League 1 in 2018, the top tier of English football. Hope has played a central role in recruiting and developing players who saw the Albion team achieve their highest ever finish in the table last season.