The 48-year-old had a fine playing career, turning out for seven different Football League clubs including spells with his hometown club Scarborough FC, but it is his work with the younger generation that has earned him the plaudits at the sports awards ceremony.

The past 15 years have seen Cook working with the best young footballers in the area, initially bringing them through the ranks during his time in charge of the former Scarborough FC Centre of Excellence.

When the old club folded he moved the youth system, community section and under-19 team to George Pindar Community Sports College.

Last year Cook was appointed director of football for the newly-formed Scarborough Town FC, an adult extension of the under-19 academy. He guided the team to the Teesside League division two championship in 2008-09, while his youth team won the double in the Northern Under-19 Alliance.

Mick Thompson, the 70-year-old Scarborough Athletic Club member, has won the Service to Sport award.

Mick, from Crossgates, represents the club at every cross-country event, and even competed in the 100m on the track during the summer.

As well as travelling all over competing for the club, Mick is Scarborough AC's PR officer, spending huge amounts of time and energy chasing up facts and figures from all over the country - and in some cases all over the world.

The sports volunteer of the year award went to table tennis club official Carole Harrington.

Her official title at Scarborough Table Tennis Club is secretary but there are few jobs that she does not perform for the Graham School-based club.

Carole's main achievement is being the driving force behind the club gaining third place in the national sports club awards in 2007 and in securing the centre's status as a possible Olympics 2012 team training site.

She deals with all the membership, organises training schedules, books and organises tournaments, deals with grant applications, and sorts out transport for teams travelling to other venues for competitions.

Carole also promotes and books courses for her club's coaches, runs the table tennis centre at least two nights per week, although in the full season she may be there up to five nights a week plus weekends for tournaments.

The special achievement award went to the Scarborough Disabled Swimming Club, who have continued to enhance their growing reputation.

CHECK OUT SPORTOGRAPH FOR THE AWARDS PICTURES