Mike is on the ball to help youngsters

A JUNIOR football coach was also named a ‘Local Hero’, after over 30 years of helping youth teams.

Mike Tovee, Academy Coach at Tytherington Juniors, received an award for Teacher of the Year at Silk 106.9’s annual ceremony.

The experienced coach was nominated after a young player chose to write about him in school as a ‘trustworthy’ person.

Mike attended the ceremony alongside other club representatives, including Club Secretary Matt O’Brien.

Matt said: “Mike has been helping coach players from Tytherington for over 30 years and we are all incredibly proud of this amazing achievement, he works tirelessly to help the players within the club improve and is well renowned for his technical training.

“Mike was nominated after a player from the club’s Academy was asked to draw a picture of someone who is trustworthy whilst at school. Most children drew pictures of parents, grandparents, Rory amazingly decided to draw a pic of our very own Coach Mike and wrote some lovely words alongside it - which we all echo!”

Writing about Mike, the pupil described his coach as ‘kind’ and ‘loving’.

Matt added: “The young player has been with our Academy for over 12 months and clearly our brilliant Coach Mike has had an amazingly positive impact - as he does with everyone.

“A parent spotted this amazing post on our club’s social media and made the nomination.

“Against amazing opposition - Mike won and accepted in front of a standing ovation.”