MINETY rugby’s senior coach Cliff Garland has won this year’s BBC West “Get Inspired” Unsung Hero Award.

He has been invited to attend the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year ceremony at the 8,000-capacity Odyssey Arena in Belfast on Sunday, December 20, along with 14 other regional winners from around the UK, when the overall national title will be presented.

The show will be broadcast live on BBC One.

BBC Points West reporter Alistair Durden visited Minety RFC on Sunday to interview Cliff and other members of the club – including representatives from the junior section, the girls’ teams and the first XV – about his outstanding contribution to the club.

Cliff and the club had been led to believe that he was simply a nominee for the West region award – until Durden suddenly presented him with the prestigious trophy at the end of a morning of filming.

A TV report was broadcast in a number of BBC Points West slots on Tuesday.

In a typically modest assessment Cliff described himself as being 'just a cog in a machine' but his contribution to mini, junior and girls' rugby has been immense. Starting with just eight players in 1998 the thriving junior section now numbers more than 200.

“I just wanted to help out," insisted Garland. "We had lots of girls in the mini rugby teams but that provision ended at 12 so we decided we would do something about it and formed a proper girls’ team.

"We've had quite a bit of success as a result, even as far as an England international player.”

Peter McAllister, junior division secretary, academy coach and long-time colleague of Cliff’s at Minety RFC, was delighted at the award.

He said: “It’s so well deserved. Cliff has worked with all age groups, not only within our club but at county level. He’s passionate about rugby whether it be watching, coaching or player development. He’s encouraged so many parents and players to become fully qualified coaches.”

Bretton King, writing on the club’s website, said: “Without Cliff Garland there would have been no Minety Junior RFC and literally thousands of children would have been deprived of involvement in a sport we cherish.”

A first XV player summed up the feelings of so many when the award was announced. “Every club needs a Cliff," he said. "We’re just lucky that we have the original.”

Cliff, 57, is no stranger to winning awards.

In 2011, he was presented with the ‘Value the Volunteer’ award by the Rugby Football Union (RFU) in recognition of ‘his tireless energy for the sport of rugby in general and Minety Rugby Football Club in particular’.

Later the same year he picked up one of the gongs at the Wiltshire and Swindon Sports Awards held at the City Hall in Salisbury.