Football club owner handed honorary degree

2 hours ago

News image — Steve Gibson led a consortium which saved Middlesbrough from liquidation in 1986

Teesside University Steve Gibson is holding is black and red graduation hat aloft and smiling at the camera. He is wearing a red, black and white graduation robe over his blue suit. He has short brown hair and is standing on a rooftop where a tall white building is visible in the background. — Steve Gibson led a consortium which saved Middlesbrough from liquidation in 1986

Middlesbrough owner and chairman Steve Gibson has been handed an honorary degree.

He was made an Honorary Doctor of Business Administration by Teesside University, with vice-chancellor Prof Paul Croney saying the entrepreneur was a "phenomenon in our area of the world".

Gibson said the local recognition was a "great honour", having been born 10 minutes from the campus.

He also said the football club was "very busy" getting ready for next season following the spygate scandal, adding: "We've had some crazy seasons at Middlesbrough, we've had some great seasons at Middlesbrough, but last year was a bit different."

Boro were handed a last minute place in the Championship play-off final earlier this year as the Saints were sanctioned for spying on its opponents, but a stoppage-time goal saw Hull City promoted instead.

Reflecting on the season, Gibson said: "It's football, everything changes and you learn something new every day."

PA Media Gareth Southgate (right) and Steve Gibson stand in front of the red and silver façade of Middlesbrough FC's Riverside Stadium and are smiling at the camera. Gibson is wearing a grey suit and has his arm on Southgate's shoulder. Southgate is wearing a blue suit. The picture was taken in 2006. — Gibson appointed future England boss Gareth Southgate as Boro manager in 2006

Gibson, who founded global transportation company Bulkhaul Ltd in 1981, went on to lead a consortium that rescued the club from liquidation in 1986 and his subsequent chairmanship saw highlights including the team winning the League Cup in 2004.

He said the area's "true asset" was the people.

"Our architecture isn't great, our buildings aren't great, but our people are."

He praised the university for leading a "world class" transformation in the area.

"I've seen the might of Teesside and I've seen it in decline and suddenly we've got a whiff of change and the beacon for that has been this university."

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