CHARLTON manager Chris Powell can add another award to his collection with an honourary degree from the University of Greenwich.

Powell led the Addicks to the League One championship last season - his first full season in charge.

Prior to that, the leftback played 270 games over eight seasons in three spells at The Valley, also getting five England caps.

He said: "This is a superb honour, not just for myself, but for my family and our wonderful football club. This is something I will really cherish.

"The university and the football club are both important parts of the local area and we try to help and contribute to the community. Charlton is very big on that and there have always been people doing great work at the club to stress the players’ responsibilities to the community. 

"Before I became a footballer I was looking at maybe becoming a journalist or a teacher. Obviously that didn’t happen, although I suppose I’m sort of a teacher now.

"I was a player for 24 years but I did go to Warwick University a couple of years ago to do a certificate in applied management, and going back to the classroom was a real eye-opener.

"You look at organisational skills, making sure you give time to people, how you manage upwards and downwards – all the skills you need to become a football manager."

Powell is the second Charlton manager to receive an honorary award from the university, with Alan Curbishley getting an Honorary Masters Degree in 1998.