· Brendon Batson OBE has received an Honorary Doctor of Letters from the University of Warwick

· Batson has said he is “flattered” to receive the Honorary Degree

· Recognised for his contribution to Football, Batson was part of ‘The Three Degrees’ alongside Cyrille Regis and Laurie Cunningham, whom although no longer with us says he “shares this with them, because they are part of my journey.”

Brendon Batson OBE has today, the 16^th January 2019, been awarded an Honorary Doctor of Letters from the University of Warwick for his contribution to Football.

Listen to the podacast here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzr8RXWqwS0&feature=youtu.be

Batson was part of ‘The Three Degrees’ alongside Cyrille Regis and Laurie Cunningham – who together were seen as icons of black participation in professional football.

After retiring in 1984 after a career in clubs such as West Bromwich Albion, Cambridge and Arsenal FC, Batson was offered a job at the PFA (Professional Footballers Association) where he is still involved now as a Trustee.

Receiving the Honorary degree today has been “flattering” he comments:

“I’m very honoured and flattered that they think I’m worthy for this reward, it’s quite an exciting day really. I remember seeing my kids graduate many years ago now and I was very nervous watching them get their degrees, it’s new ground for me so we’ll wait and see. I’ve enjoyed what I’ve done over the years I’ve been involved in Football I’ve been very fortunate so for people to recognise what only what you did as a player but over career is really flattering.”

Batson is very grateful for his life in sport, but anyone can get involved in it.

“Sometimes you can’t always be at the elite end, but you can get involved in a multitude of ways, volunteering is very important for any sports discipline you want to be involved in. I know people who’ve been involved in sport all their life as participants, as administrators, as volunteers and it’s amazing the joy you get from being involved and being involved with young people. You’ve been through it you came out of it the mature end but you see young people getting involved and it’s great just be proud of it because it’s a great social environment as well.”

Batson also comments ‘The Three Degrees’ of which he was one alongside Cyrille Regis and Laurie Cunningham:

“Well at times like this, it was only a couple of days ago it was the first anniversary of Cyrille’s passing and it’s still a shock to us, and Cyrille’s loved, I mean we love Cyrille. Not just as a team mate but as a friend we just didn’t realise how loved he is universally. Laurie was killed 30 years ago this year in a car crash in Madrid, so I do look back on it and I think, wouldn’t it have been great if we were all together. Life’s not like that, we know that. But, I’m a better person for having met them and when I played with them as teammates we were good friends off the pitch as well. Laurie was tragically was 33, Cyrille was only a year ago and I miss them. I miss them both. They are part of my journey, so I share this with them because they are part of my journey.”

ENDS

16 JANUARY 2019

NOTES TO EDITORS:

High-res images available at:

https://warwick.ac.uk/services/communications/medialibrary/images/january2019/omg_2141.jpg

https://warwick.ac.uk/services/communications/medialibrary/images/january2019/2146_version_2.jpg

https://warwick.ac.uk/services/communications/medialibrary/images/january2019/2143_version_2.jpg

https://warwick.ac.uk/services/communications/medialibrary/images/january2019/batson_crop.jpg

https://warwick.ac.uk/services/communications/medialibrary/images/january2019/b12.jpg

https://warwick.ac.uk/services/communications/medialibrary/images/january2019/bb.jpg

For further information please contact:

Alice Scott
Media Relations Manager – Science, University of Warwick
Tel: 02476 574 255 or 07920 531 221
E-mail: alice.j.scott@warwick.ac.uk

For further information please contact:

Alice Scott

Media Relations Manager – Science, University of Warwick

Tel: 02476 574 255 or 07920 531 221

E-mail: alice dot j dot scott at warwick dot ac dot uk