WATCH: Sports presenter Jacqui Oatley nets an honorary degree from the University of Wolverhampton

It has been quite a 2016 for Codsall-born Jacqui Oatley who also spent the summer at the European Championships in France as part of ITV's presenting team.

The Wolves fan received her Honorary Doctor of Letters at Wolverhampton's Grand Theatre yesterday to recognise her contribution to sports broadcasting and for championing opportunities for women.

In addition to her TV work Jacqui is a Director at Women in Football which seeks to celebrate women's achievement in sport and challenge discrimination. But before embarking on a career in media, Jacqui sold lottery tickets at Molineux in return for match tickets while studying at the University of Leeds.

She admits she had 'absolutely no inkling' back then that she would be honoured for her work.

Speaking to the Express & Star, she said: "I think it is fair to say that it didn't cross my mind this could happen. I was a student at the time studying German and I had no idea what I was going to do with my life after that. I had absolutely no inkling. It never occurred to me I could have a career in sport.

"It is strange now there are so many opportunities but then I had no level of confidence that those jobs existed for people like me." Jacqui, aged 41, is famous for being the first ever female commentator on Match of the Day and has gone on to present for both the BBC and ITV.

In July she was awarded her MBE in recognition of her work to increase the participation of women in football. After receiving her honorary degree, Jacqui said opportunities for women in sport and media have come a long way but that there is more progress to be made.

She added: "There are still so few women working in the print media. It is something we are looking to challenge at Women in Football and we are looking to encourage young girls and women with a passion to actually do something about it and not to be put off."

Jacqui was today presenting Final Score on BBC1.