SAINTS head of Women’s and Girl’s football Marieanne Spacey-Cale MBE has been awarded an Honorary Degree in Sport from Solent University.

Spacey-Cale was capped 90 times as an England international, scoring 28 times, and won the FA Cup with the likes of Arsenal and Spurs, before hanging up her boots and going into coaching.

There, she has gone from strength to strength and has played a huge role in earning Saints two promotions and currently guiding them to their highest ever position in the football pyramid, after a 100% record to start the National League Southern Premier season.

Her contributions to the sport and the women’s game have been recognised by the local university, although it is not the first time she has been awarded an honorary degree.

Spacey-Cale’s also received a Masters in Sports Coaching from Worcester University in November 2018 – and admitted to the club website that these awards and commendations always come as a surprise.

She said: "These are things that you never think you’re going to get because I have to be honest, when I was at school I wasn’t very academic.

"I just wanted to be outside playing sport and doing things that I really enjoy, but over the years I’ve become much more of a student of the game I guess.

“I was nervous about the speech and nervous about robing up again and everything but if I can inspire others to be part of a fantastic journey like I've had then it’s well worth it."