Newcastle United footballer Dan Burn awarded honorary degree by Northumbria University
A football hero from Blyth has been awarded an honorary degree from Northumbria University.
Newcastle United’s Dan Burn, alongside head coach Eddie Howe and former Sunderland AFC chairman Sir Bob Murrary, were among seven individuals to be honoured at the university’s winter graduation ceremonies.
Eddie Howe and Dan Burn each received the degree of Doctor of Civil Law in recognition of their outstanding contributions to Newcastle United and the wider community.
Together, they lead Newcastle to their first domestic trophy since 1955 when Newcastle won the Carabao Cup earlier this year, with Dan scoring the opening goal.
Beyond their achievements on the pitch, both Eddie and Dan actively support the Newcastle United Foundation's community programmes, speaking openly about mental health and wellbeing to inspire almost 70,000 people across the North East every year.
Speaking about receiving his honorary degree, Dan Burn said: “It feels surreal to receive this incredible honour – it's a very proud moment for my family, and me.
“There are always knockbacks in people’s careers, but the important thing is still having the fire to do what you want to do and not let those knockbacks stop you.
"While I was fortunate to score in the cup final, bringing that trophy to Newcastle was a team effort. This recognition belongs to everyone who made that moment possible.”
Eddie Howe added: “Dan and I were blown away by the gesture and the acknowledgement. It’s an incredible thing and very gratefully received.
"You never set out to achieve things individually; it's always about the collective, so to be recognised in any way is an amazing thing. I accept this on behalf of our entire coaching team and all the staff working incredibly hard to bring success to Newcastle United.”
Sir Bob Murray CBE, former Chairman of Sunderland AFC, also received the degree of Doctor of Civil Law.
He said: “To be honoured by Northumbria University is a privilege I value enormously. As a former student of Newcastle Polytechnic, this recognition carries real personal significance.
"The North East shaped who I am, and the education I received here gave me the foundation for my career in business, football, and community work.”