Coach of the Year Category Winner: Ernie Howe, Team of the Year Category Winner: Basingstoke Town FC THERE was double delight at the awards for Ernie Howe, who picked up the Coach of the Year accolade while his Basingstoke Town side won the Team of the Year award.

After receiving his individual honour from BCOT's Dominic Cunliffe - who is also Basingstoke Town's youth team manager - the Camrose Blues boss was praised by sports council chairman Kevin Laing for the job he has done, at BTFC and within the community to develop football over the past 12 years.

Laing told the audience: "Ernie is someone for whom this honour, and recognition for his tireless efforts, is long overdue."

During 2004, former Fulham, QPR and Portsmouth defender Howe guided Town to an excellent start to their inaugural Nationwide South season. When the calendar year ended, Town's young side were second - a fantastic achievement given the limited finances available for Howe to work with.

Speaking after he collected his award, Howe said: "It was a bit of shock to win really, but I am very pleased. It's nice when your efforts are recognised by people.

"It has been a strange year when you think we initially didn't make the new set-up, but we got a lucky break and our new challenge was there. It gave us all something to look forward to and, of course, things have gone better than we ever expected.

"Full credit has to go to the lads for how well they've played and I certainly cannot remember, during my time here, us scoring so many good goals. Those goals have been a joy to watch."

Howe and Basingstoke Town received strong recommendations in each category, and it was a visibly delighted Pete Peters who accepted the Team of the Year trophy.

Howe was quick to pay tribute to his right-hand man of 10 years, saying: "Pete is a great help to me and I couldn't do the job I do without his support and abilities.

"I was hoping he would win the Service to Sport award because he certainly deserves it in my view. His effort, energy and enthusiasm is wonderful, so it was good and only right he went up to collect the Team of the Year award."

Peters said: "I didn't know what sort of night this was going to be, but it's turned out to be brilliant and I'm really pleased for Ernie and very glad we've won the Team of the Year award.

"Although we've struggled a bit since Christmas, I hope we can make another bid for the play-offs."