Honorary degree to referee

Updated on: Monday, August 22, 2011

Howard Webb, Premier League referee, who officiated the World Cup and Champions League finals and dealt with some of the biggest names in the world of football, will be getting big match nerves of a different kind on November 22, when he steps on stage at Sheffield City Hall to collect an honorary degree from Sheffield Hallam University, for his services to sport.

Howard has strong links with the university and received altitude training and mental coaching from its psychologists and physiotherapists before setting off for the World Cup last year.

His 12-week training regime in Sheffield Hallam’s environment chamber has been cited as one of the main reasons why he was chosen to officiate in the final between Spain and Holland. Sheffield Hallam’s Centre for Sports and Exercise Science has a contract with the Professional Game Match Officials (PGMOL) to provide coaching and psychological support to Premiership referees, and Howard’s psychological sessions with Professor Ian Maynard have been credited with giving him the mental toughness to cope with a final where 13 yellow and one red card were issued.

News of Howard’s honour was released on the eve of the 2011-2012 football season, with the referee due to officiate the match between Tottenham Hotspur and Everton. Howard, who lives in Rotherham and is a serving police officer with South Yorkshire Police, said he was delighted to receive the honour.

“I am delighted to receive this honorary degree which cements my relationship with Sheffield Hallam and its academic staff. Their expertise proved invaluable in my journey to the World Cup final and I look forward to working with them during the forthcoming football league season,” said Howard.

He was awarded an MBE in the New Year’s Honours List, has enlisted the services of the University’s Podium Sport team while progressing from the Rotherham Sunday Leagues to the World Cup final. He has supported several university events and was himself the subject of an In Conversation event held last year.

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