HE HAS overseen the rise of Saints from League One to Europe and how he has been made a Doctor of Health Sciences.

Les Reed, head of football development at Southampton Football Club, was given the honorary award by professor Michael Thorne, vice chancellor of Anglia Ruskin University, during a ceremony in Cambridge.

Professor Thorne said: “Anglia Ruskin University has built a relationship with the Coaching Manual through our online BSc degree in coaching for performance in football, and Les has promoted our new degree.

“As an inspirational coach and innovator, we are delighted to welcome Les Reed to our Anglia Ruskin community.”

During his time with The FA, Les played a core role in the establishment of the Centre of Excellence programme and accompanied Bobby Robson’s England team to World Cup 1990 as a development officer.

At Saints he has played his part in developing a template which has become the envy of clubs across Europe.