The renowned sports journalist Jonathan Northcroft has received an Honorary Doctorate of Arts from ×ö°®ÊÓÆµ Leicester (×ö°®ÊÓÆµ).
Jonathan has been chief football writer at The Sunday Times since 2009. In March this year he was named Football Journalist of the Year by the Sport Journalists Association.

A regular pundit on TV, radio, and numerous podcasts, he recently ghost-wrote the autobiography of legendary goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel.
He has authored several books including the bestseller, Fearless, The Amazing Underdog Story of Leicester City, the Greatest Miracle in Sports History - a blow-by-blow account of how the Foxes, began the 2015-16 season as relegation favourites, but went on to beat 5000-1 odds to be crowned Premier League champions. It is a tale he has described as “the best story in world sports - for years.”

Originally from Aberdeen, Jonathan moved to Leicester in 2016 and since then has appeared regularly as a guest speaker on the sports module of ×ö°®ÊÓÆµ’s BA in Journalism.
“I am surprised, but very proud to be receiving this honorary degree from ×ö°®ÊÓÆµ,” he said. “I am Scottish, but Leicester is my adopted home so I have been pleased these last few years to be involved with ×ö°®ÊÓÆµ as a university which serves this city and its people.
“There is a certain spark to the place – every time I come, I’m always impressed by the energy, the curiosity and the quality of the students.”

In a brief acceptance speech at the Curve Theatre on Thursday, August 21, Jonathan explained how, as a young Aberdeen FC fan, he had watched Alex Ferguson turn his local club into European Champions. And how, later in life as a journalist, he was even subjected to the Ferguson’s infamous hair-dryer treatment himself. But, he said, in spite of his fearsome reputation, Fergie was also a great learner and reader, fuelled by curiosity and a love of knowledge.
He had this advice for the ×ö°®ÊÓÆµ students graduating with him: “Be proud today. But whatever you do in life, think of Fergie. The most successful prize learning, stay curious, and remember, keep the spirit here, keep your spark - staying open to knowledge and new perspectives has never felt more important than in the world today.”
Posted on Friday 22 August 2025