Darren Moore's commendation video transcript

Darren Moore

PROFESSOR KEITH MCLAY: And now we come to our Honorary Award. These are awarded by the University in recognition of somebody who has made a very significant contribution in their particular field. And I now have the great pleasure in inviting Dr Andy Hooton, Head of the School of Sport and Exercise Science, to give the commendation for the conferment of an Honorary Master of the University to Darren Moore. Dr Hooton.

DR ANDY HOOTON: Vice-Chancellor, Pro Chancellor, Lord Lieutenant, High Sheriff, Deputy Mayor of Derby, Honoured guests, Graduands of 2025, and all our guests here today, it gives me great pleasure to be presenting Darren Moore for the award of Honorary Master of the University.

Darren is a professional football manager and former player who made 90 appearances for Derby County Football Club. He was a member of the team promoted to the Premier League in 2007, and played a huge part in that achievement. Darren now manages Port Vale, who have just been promoted to League One after finishing second in League Two last season. Darren has played and managed at all four levels of the professional pyramid, and is widely regarded as "the nicest man in football".

Darren was born and raised in Birmingham in the 1970s, and began his football career as a trainee with Torquay United in 1990 at the age of 16. He turned professional in 1992 and was sold to Doncaster Rovers in 1995. Throughout his 30 year career, Darren played for several major clubs including Bradford City, Portsmouth, West Bromwich Albion and of course, Derby County. He also earned two international caps playing for Jamaica. Darren was a man mountain on the pitch, but was often described as a gentle giant outside of the game.

Retiring as a player in 2012, he then turned his hand to management, first with former club West Bromwich Albion, before spending some time in Yorkshire with Doncaster, Sheffield Wednesday and Huddersfield, and most recently joining Port Vale, leading them to promotion.

But Darren's impact on football goes far beyond results on a football pitch. As the first ever Jamaican to manage in the Premier League, and as one of very few black managers within the English Football League, Darren has become a role model for aspiring players and managers alike. He is known for his respectful, generous and dedicated approach both on and off the pitch. He is committed to developing young footballers and is currently working with the football authorities to widen opportunities for black players, particularly in coaching and management roles.

Whichever club Darren has worked with, he has always made every effort to connect with and contribute to the local community. He has been an active promoter of their charitable foundations and spends a great deal of his own time promoting charities close to his heart. He has also performed some impressive physical feats in name of raising money for charity. He walked the Great Wall of China in 2005, and he cycled 100 miles in a day for Cure Leukaemia. He is an honorary patron for the charity show Racism The Red card, and has performed extensive charity work for the Professional Footballers Association and the Free Methodist Church.

Darren's faith has been a powerful influence on his career and his approach to navigating the pressures of professional football. In a fast-paced industry which can often see careers cut short, Darren has built an enduring legacy and continues to be an inspirational role model in the world of football and beyond.

Joining Darren today to celebrate are his family Margaret, Angie, Darcey and Tracey.
 
Vice-Chancellor, in recognition of his significant achievements in football and community work, and his position as a role model in the sport, we are delighted to award Darren Moore the Honorary Degree of Master of the University.

DARREN MOORE: Wow! That was long. Thank you. Thank you so much.

I'm really here today as it's a celebration for you students, and I just wanted to say a few words. Obviously, you've heard I'm managing at Port Vale Football Club. We had an outstanding season last season in gaining promotion. It's what we wanted to achieve last season. And by achieving that last season, I used it as really, it was a base layer for the football club. And what do we mean by that? It was a promotion to get back into League One. So it was a base layer for us to go on in the season and lay the platform. Part of that last season was resilience, determination and consistency. And when I stand here today, there have definitely been elements of that for you, the graduands today, in achieving that.

And what I just wanted to say is there is going to be knock backs. With last season we had knockbacks at Port Vale, believe you me, we did. There was times where we was deemed that we wasn't going to do it. There's going to be times in your in your life, in your careers, after receiving the degrees that you're going to receive, that in life, as you go on, there will be knocked backs and setbacks. My thing is, these three words, resilience, determination and consistency, you've shown in abundance in achieving this degree.

There's going to be moments of that that's going to hit life's hurdles. And what I wanted to say to all the students and the graduands here today is, don't give up. Never, never give up. And as you can see, for myself, in terms of the levels I've worked at and managed and played at all four divisions, there's never been an element of giving up. And where I am here today is to inspire, and you're going to inspire the next generation as you help to shape this world and the future.

Congratulations to you all. Fantastic achievement, and I'm so pleased and privileged to be here sharing this day with you.

Thank you very much.

Darren Moore's commendation video

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