Albion chief executive Paul Barber is to be awarded an honorary degree to top off a stellar year for the club.

The honorary degree will recognise Barber’s contribution to the club after serving the club for over a decade.

Paul, who was also awarded an OBE in the New Year Honours List, will be presented with the degree at University of Sussex graduations in July alongside a host of other recipients being recognised for their work.

Brighton chairman Tony Bloom said: “On behalf of everyone at Brighton and Hove Albion I’d like to extend my warm congratulations to Paul; we’re all extremely proud of him and his achievements for the club and it’s been quite a season for him both personally and with our performance on the pitch.

“This award from the University of Sussex is richly deserved and again it recognises his incredible work at the club as our chief executive and deputy chairman and in the wider football world.”

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Also being given an honorary degree by the university are Baroness Valerie Amos, the first black woman to lead a university, and Dr Gail Lewis, a leading black feminist academic.

Apartheid activist Lord Peter Hain and artist Dr Katrina Palmer will also be recognised alongside Richard Atkins, a motorsports engineer.

Professor Sasha Roseneil, the university’s vice-chancellor, said: “In July, the University of Sussex will celebrate the graduation of our students and will recognise people who have made outstanding contributions to society or their field of expertise with the conferral of an honorary degree.

“Having dedicated over 25 years to professional football and over 10 years to Brighton and Hove Albion, the University of Sussex is delighted to be awarding Sussex local, Paul Barber OBE.

“This year’s honorary graduates have impressive and varied careers, and notably some are Sussex alumni. We look forward to inviting them to this year’s summer graduation celebrations and we know that their achievements will inspire our students as they embark on creating their lives beyond university.”