SET the video on Monday evening to capture a moment never before witnessed - John Coleman stuck for words.

The Accrington Stanley manager has never been afraid to say what he thinks. His forthright, whole-hearted approach to football is the only way he knows.

He was born with the will to win, and any player who doesn't share that passion might as well not bother tying his bootlaces.

It's the reason why Stanley have won two championships and four cups under his reign, and why they have a chance of reaching the FA Cup third round for the first time in the club's history tomorrow.

I had the pleasure of spending an evening with Coleman earlier this week at the BBC NW Sports Personality of the Year awards.

He had been nominated for Lancashire's top award alongside reigning Superbike world champion Neil Hodgson, and cricketer Andrew Flintoff, enjoying his greatest season yet with England.

The likes of Andy Cole, Graeme Souness and James Anderson were not even in the frame.

The furthest thought from Coleman's mind was that he would pick up the prestigious award. In fact, he sauntered off to the toilet just minutes before the nominations were announced.

As one of the judges for the BBC award, I already knew the result, and was preparing to go searching the loos of Manchester's plush Midland Hotel to drag him back to the table on time.

His timing was impeccable. He returned just in time to hear his name resound around the venue packed with the biggest names in North West sport.

Coleman was visibly shocked. In fact, he could hardly speak as he was interviewed on stage as Sir Alex Ferguson and Sir Bobby Charlton looked on.

And that sums the man up. He's not in football for personal awards, and was probably the last person in Lancashire who thought he would pick up the trophy awarded to James Anderson last year. He'll watch Monday night's recording of the awards with more than a tinge of embarrassment.

"It might have my name on it, but this belongs to Accrington," he told me afterwards. "I'll take it to show my pupils in school, and then it will stay at the club. It is a team award."

Coleman will be sat in a hotel in Bournemouth tonight, and his personal accolade will be the furthest thought from his mind.

He's a winner - and he'll spend every waking minute plotting ways to see off the Second Division side. He'll probably spend the rest of the time sleeping, and dreaming of a repeat of Andy Gouck's last-minute goal from the first round.

"He's a winner, most of all, he's a winner. And he will be until his dying day," was assistant manager Jimmy Bell's assessment of his close friend.

His brother Mike gave another insight into his character: "When we were kids playing football, he would do anything to get a goal. People used to say he would trample over his granny to get his head to a cross, and they were right.

"He would go in where the boots were flying, and throw himself at the ball if it meant he'd score a goal."

That determination and self-belief has obviously continued into management.

And backed by chairman Eric Whalley, they'll be looking to cause the upset of the round tomorrow, and possibly set up a clash with Manchester United or Liverpool.

Whalley is a canny character, and together with Coleman, has formed one of the game's most unlikely double acts. They both enjoy a battle, but have a great rapport.

The club is in safe hands with both men, and Whalley's dream of taking the club into the Football League becomes closer to reality every day.

I asked the chairman what Coleman is like to work with. With a broad smile, he replied: "He's ******* hard work. I have to lend him my hat so he can pick the team out of it each week."

Let's hope that magic hat works tomorrow.