FOUR of Leigh's sporting heroes are up for county recognition after receiving hometown honours.

Rugby union's Howard Lycett and Dave Phillips, cricket's John Charlson, and swimmer Khalid Jhugroo scooped three of the five prizes at the recent Wigan Sports Awards Coach of the Year ceremony.

RU trainer Howard collected the Coach of the Year title while John and Dave shared the Special Recognition Award and Khaled lifted the Sports Performer of the Year trophy.

They will now go forward to represent the borough at the Greater Manchester awards on March 14.

Howard has coached numerous team at Leigh RUC in the past year including the ladies' first team and the mini and junior sections and works incessantly to promote the sport.

He is a member of the Wigan RU Development Group and the Wigan Coaches' Association and encourages new players at every opportunity. He has increased the number of junior players through primary school coaching and festivals and through management of the Wigan U12 for the Greater Manchester Youth Games.

In 1958 as a 16-years-old John started football and cricket pools at Atherton CC to raise funds for the club, and on the secretary's retirement a year later he took over the post temporarily -- and is still there 42 years on.

In the meantime he has also set up and coached junior teams and is still at the club every Wednesday looking after the under 11s.

County cricket

Among other successes he became manager of Lancashire schools U11s in 1988 and a few of the boys who passed through his teams for Lancashire have recently been selected for the county cricket academy.

In 1974 John married his wife Kathleen after making her a tea lady in 1971-- a job she still performs today.

Dave is the hard working chairman of the minis and juniors at Leigh RUFC, a position he also holds with the Wigan RU Development Group. His dynamic approach has generated hundreds of youngsters for the section and he has mentored 15-24 year olds. He is involved at all levels of the club including pitch maintenance and still finds time to act as youth teams' manager and play for the Vets on Saturdays.

Khalid, 16, joined Tyldesley Swimming and Water Polo Club in 1990 as a five year old and has progressed to the world stage. Last year he was selected for the World Class Potential Youth Squad. He has represented England and GB at home and abroad travelling to Canada, Japan and Germany to compete.

His success is achieved through over 20 hours of training a week which he manages to combine with A level studies. His aim this year is to qualify for the European Junior Championships in the 1500m.

The event was organised and judged by Wigan Council's Sports Development Unit, Wigan Sports Council and the Wigan Coaches Association.