Honorary degree for 'Motty'

John Motson is awarded an honorary law degree

A BBC broadcaster most at home commentating on big football matches found himself in front of a different kind of crowd on Wednesday.

John Motson was awarded an honorary law degree by Suffolk College.

Known affectionately as 'Motty', the Match of the Day commentator has close links with the county.

While a pupil at Culford School he became a big fan of Ipswich Town and he still has a cottage nearby.

Obviously I feel somewhat inferior to the students who are getting them for the right reasons and have worked very hard

John Motson

But being an academic doesn't come easily to him.

"I am somewhat embarrassed. I have never done anything academically in my life that deserves anything like this," he said.

"Obviously I feel somewhat inferior to the students who are getting them for the right reasons and have worked very hard.

"This is their day really. I am a bit of a side show but I am very honoured that the college has seen fit to bestow this upon me."

Suffolk College principal David Muller said the broadcaster had been selected for the honour because of his links with the county.

He said: "The ceremony is to celebrate the success of people living in and connected to Suffolk along with the students collecting their degrees."