Northumbria University honour Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe and dan Burn

Dan Burn and Eddie Howe have been honoured by Northumbria University.

The Newcastle United pair recognised for their contributions to the club and in the community.

The official Northumbria University statement (see below) detailing;

‘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.’

Always nice to see positive reporting when it comes to our football club and for sure, this Newcastle United pair fully deserving of all the accolades that they receive.

Northumbria University official announcement – 2 December 2025:

Ahead of December’s eagerly anticipated Tyne-Wear derby, footballing legends from both Newcastle United and Sunderland A.F.C. have been honoured by Northumbria University for their achievements on and off the pitch.

Newcastle United Head Coach Eddie Howe, local hero and England international Dan Burn, and former Sunderland A.F.C. chairman Sir Bob Murray were among seven distinguished individuals to receive honorary degrees 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 have given the city a football team built on hard work, unity and belief after leading 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.

Eddie and Dan were originally due to receive their degrees alongside students from the University’s Faculty of Health and Wellbeing. However, when Newcastle’s fixture against Tottenham Hotspur was rescheduled for the same date, University leaders arranged a special presentation at St James’ Park to avoid disrupting the team’s match preparations. George Clarke, Northumbria’s newly appointed Chancellor, presided over the ceremony, marking his first official duties since taking up the role in November.

Speaking about receiving his honorary degree, Eddie Howe said: “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.”

Dan Burn added: “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.”