Andy Booth has been one of Huddersfield's favourite sporting icons for almost two decades and yesterday his achievements were recognised when the footballer became an Honorary Fellow of the University of Huddersfield.
Andy received his Honorary Fellowship - one of the highest honours the University can bestow - from long-time Huddersfield Town supporter and Chancellor of the University of Huddersfield, world-famous actor Patrick Stewart.
The ceremony took place yesterday morning in the University's St Paul's Hall.
Andy Booth has always lived in his home town and has become synonymous with Huddersfield Town, where he has played for 18 years over two spells.
A keen sportsman since his youngest days - he was a county junior champion swimmer and top Huddersfield League cricketer - it was football which became his consuming passion and successful career.
Signed on schoolboy forms for Huddersfield Town, Andy was quickly given a full professional contract and made his Football League debut as a substitute in a 1-0 defeat against Fulham on 10 March, 1992. He scored the first of more than 140 senior-competition goals for the club in a 2-2 draw at Blackpool the following November and, within a year, was the club's established centre forward. After helping the club reach the Autoglass Trophy Final at Wembley in 1994, he was part of the team which won promotion through the play-offs, again at Wembley, the following year.
His prowess attracted the interest of the FA national coaches, and he earned three caps for the England Under-21 team, scoring one goal. He also played for the Football League's Under 21 representative team. Having been top scorer for Huddersfield again the following campaign, he was transferred to Sheffield Wednesday - then in the Premiership - for a £2.75 million fee in 1996 and became a popular figure in four-and-a-half years at Hillsborough.
He returned to Huddersfield in the 2000-01 season. Since then, he has become the club's third highest scorer of all time and, as a role model for all youngsters in the area, become one of the town's Ambassadors for Huddersfield.
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