University honours Welsh football legend Jess Fishlock

Professor Dame Elan Closs Stephens DBE, Pro Chancellor of Aberystwyth University, presenting Jess Fishlock as an Honorary Fellow

Professional footballer and coach Jess Fishlock MBE has been honoured with a Fellowship of Aberystwyth University.

Raised in Llanrumney, Fishlock recently became the first footballer to win 150 international caps for Wales.  Just this week she made history once again by breaking Wales’ all-time goal-scoring record. 

After making her debut in Stighag, Switzerland in 2006, she reached her 100th cap playing against Northern Ireland in Ystrad Mynach in 2017, and her historic 150th cap in Podujevo, Kosovo in April this year. 

During her eighteen-year professional career, she has played for multiple championship and season title winning teams across the world, winning the UEFA Champions League with FFC Frankfurt and Lyon.

She currently plays for Seattle Reign FC as well as Wales’ national team.

She has been named Welsh Footballer of the Year five times and was awarded an MBE for services to football and the LGBT community in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in 2018.

Jess Fishlock was presented as Honorary Fellow by Dr Elin Royles at Aberystwyth University on Thursday 18 July 2024.

The full conferral presentation is available below, in the language in which it was delivered.

Presentation of Jess Fishlock by Dr Elin Royles:

Dirprwy Ganghellor, Dirprwy Is-Ganghellor, graddedigion a  chyfeillion.  Pleser o’r mwyaf yw cyflwyno Jessica Fishlock yn gymrawd Prifysgol Aberystwyth.

Pro Chancellor, Pro Vice-Chancellor, graduates and supporters.  It is an honour and a privilege to present Jessica Fishlock as a Fellow of Aberystwyth University.

At the end of this ceremony, we’ll sing ‘Mae Hen Wlad fy Nhadau’ the Welsh national anthem. Globally, the Welsh are renowned for their pride in singing this anthem, particularly at the start of sports matches. Even spontaneously during matches in order to raise our game. Our fellow today is a legend, who has inspired that singing, that emotion.

In April, Jess Fishlock became the first footballer to win 150 international caps for Wales. This week in a critical Euro 2025 qualifying match against Kosovo, she broke Wales’ all-time goalscoring record by netting her 45th goal for Wales. What an achievement! Now, it’s bring on the play-offs.

Her talent and dedication to football was clear from a young age. She joined Cardiff City Ladies at the age of 7. An exceptional eighteen-year professional footballing and coaching career spans playing for championship and season title winning teams across three continents.

She has won the Welsh Footballer of the Year title five times and has twice been a member of the winning team of the UEFA Women’s Championship league title. 

Pencampwraig heb ei hail. Pan siaradais â’r ddarlledwraig a chynfyfyrwraig Prifysgol Aberystwyth, Catrin Heledd, rhywun sydd wedi hen arfer bod ynghanol cyffro pêl droed Cymru, dywedodd hi am Jess: ‘Eicon. Mae wedi selio ei lle yn y llyfrau hanes ac yn oriel yr anfarwolion. I’r genhedlaeth nesaf o gyw bel droedwyr - yn fechgyn neu’n ferched -  mae’n ysbrydoliaeth  - yn cŵl gyda’i “undercut”  ond hefyd  yn brawf bod dycnwch a gwaith caled yn talu ar ei ganfed. Cymraes i’r carn sydd  - fel y ddraig goch ar ei chrys  - yn danllyd, yn angerddol ac yn llawn brwydr.’

A remarkable talent combined with sheer dedication and hard work, she has overcome many challenges. This pioneer of professional women footballers is a true inspiration for the next generation of young footballers.

Beyond the football pitches, Jess has been a strong advocate for the LGBT community and campaigned tirelessly for fair and equal treatment of women within the women’s game. She speaks openly and honestly about her own experiences and instils in others the confidence to be their true authentic self, as she is herself wherever she is.

Professor Laura McAllister, your first captain at Cardiff City, Deputy Chair of UEFA’s Women’s Football Committee told me that you’re ‘one of the true legends of football. Her achievements are immense, both on and off the field. Off the pitch, Jess is the definition of a role model. She has been a tireless pioneer and champion for equality and human rights, and especially for LGBTQ groups. Unlike many male professional players, Jess is never frightened to raise her voice to speak out for those for whom discrimination is a norm. All of us in Wales should be very proud to call her one of our own.’

As prospective graduates moving onto the next chapter in your lives, I hope that you’ll feel inspired and empowered by Jess’ commitment and dedication in her professional life and raise your game in making your own field and society more equal.

We are immensely proud of you Jess. As an University and as a nation.

Mae’n anrhydedd ac yn fraint i ni fel Prifysgol gael cydnabod a dathlu dy gyfraniad ar y meysydd chwarae ac yn ymgyrchu dros gydraddoldeb.

Dirprwy Ganghellor, mae’n bleser gen i gyflwyno Jessica Fishlock i chi yn Gymrawd.  

Pro Chancellor, it is my absolute pleasure to present Jessica Fishlock to you as a Fellow of Aberystwyth University.

Aberystwyth University Honours 2024

Each year, Aberystwyth University confers Honorary Awards on a small number of distinguished individuals in recognition of their outstanding achievement and contribution.

The 2024 Honorary Fellows are:

• Professor Sir Stewart Cole KCMG FRS, internationally renowned microbiologist working in global health
• Jess Fishlock MBE, professional footballer and coach, who has won 150 international caps for Wales
• Clare Hieatt, co-founder of globally acclaimed ideas festival The Do Lectures and Hiut Denim Co
• David Hieatt, co-founder of Cardigan-based jeans company Hiut Denim Co and The Do Lectures
• Professor Uzo Iwobi CBE FLSW FRSA, Founder and Chief Executive of Race Council Cymru
• Dr Anna Persaud, CEO and Founder of luxury British skincare and wellness brand, This Works
• Manon Steffan Ros, award-winning author, columnist and scriptwriter

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