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Honour for sports presenter Jacqui Oatley
20/09/2016
TV presenter Jacqui Oatley has been honoured by the University of Wolverhampton for her contribution to sports broadcasting.
Wolverhampton-born Jacqui was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Letters during a graduation ceremony at the Grand Theatre on Friday, 23 September 2016.
Jacqui, who was the first female commentator on Match of the Day, was presented with the award in recognition of her contribution to sports broadcasting, and in particular championing opportunities for women.
Jacqui, who is also a director of Women in Football, said: “It’s a real privilege to have been honoured by my home town university. I’m extremely proud to come from Wolverhampton and I really hope that this recognition can help to inspire other young people in the area to follow their passion in life, whatever that may be.”
Jacqui Oatley MBE is a sports broadcaster presenting mostly football for ITV and BBC Sport. She is best known for being the first female commentator on BBC TV’s flagship football programme Match of the Day.
Jacqui was born in Wolverhampton and brought up in Codsall. She graduated from the University of Leeds with a degree in German and moved to London to work in intellectual property. While playing for Chiswick Ladies FC, Jacqui dislocated her knee cap which resulted in a reconstruction operation and ten months on crutches.
She was told she would no longer be able to play sport, prompting her decision to train to become a sports journalist.
While studying for her Postgraduate Diploma in Broadcast Journalism at Sheffield Hallam University, she joined BBC Radio Leeds as a sports reporter.
She joined BBC Radio 5 Live in 2003 and became the first woman to commentate on a football match on British network radio in 2005.
A married mum of two children, Jacqui is an FA qualified football coach, a director of Women in Football, and in August 2015 was named eighth most influential woman in sport by The Independent.
Jacqui was awarded an MBE in the 2016 New Year’s Honours for services to broadcasting and diversity in sport.
Honorary degrees are awarded by the University to high-profile figures that make a significant contribution to their field of expertise.
ENDS
For more information please contact Vickie Warren in the Media Relations Office on 01902 322736.
Date Issued:
For more information please contact the Corporate Communications Team.
