Norwich City and Southampton hero Mike Channon will be honoured with a special presentation during tomorrow's match between the two clubs. The former England striker will step on to the St Mary's Stadium turf at half-time to collect an honorary degree awarded by Southampton Solent University.

Norwich City and Southampton hero Mike Channon will be honoured with a special presentation during tomorrow's match between the two clubs.

The former England striker will step on to the St Mary's Stadium turf at half-time to collect an honorary degree awarded by Southampton Solent University.

The award comes 15 months after top racehorse trainer Channon survived a horrific car crash on the M1 which killed his friend Tim Corby and left him hospitalised.

The 60-year-old will be presented with an Honorary Doctorate of Sport by the university's vice-chancellor, Professor Van Gore. The ceremony was put on hold last year because of his accident.

Channon was Southampton's all-time leading goalscorer with 228 goals during two spells at The Dell, and was a member of their 1976 FA Cup-winning team. He later starred for the Canaries, scoring 25 goals in 112 appearances, and was part of the 1985 Milk Cup-winning team.

He retired from football in 1986 and began his racing career as assistant trainer to John Baker and Ken Cunningham-Brown before he took out his own licence in 1990. His first Group One success came with Piccolo in the 1994 Nunthorpe Stakes and he has gone on to win many more valuable races. In 2002 he topped the 100-winner mark for the first time, ending the season with 123 winners.

Channon is the latest former Saints legend to receive an honorary award from the university, following on from Matthew Le Tissier, former manager Lawrie McMenemy and Terry Paine.