They are the pride of Young Lions who gave English football a thrilling glimpse of the future in 2017.
World Cup-winning captains Lewis Cook and Joel Latibeaudiere, and European Championship-winning skipper Jay Dasilva collected the Inspirational Performance gong at Mirror Sport's Pride of Sport awards in partnership with TSB.
And as the Three Lions collected the award with their coaches at a star-studded ceremony in London, England Under-20 boss Paul Simpson said: “In all age groups, English players have shown they can compete and win on the global stage.”
After years of hurt at senior level, this six-pack is England's real golden generation: Under-17 World Cup-winning captain Latibeaudiere and coach Steve Cooper, Under-20 World Cup-winning skipper Lewis Cook and coach Simpson, and Under-19 European champions Jay Dasilva (captain) and Keith Downing (manager).
Simpson, who led his age group to glory in South Korea in June, said: “It has been a fantastic year for everybody. Was winning a World Cup a realistic target? Probably not – because we hadn't won a game in the tournament for 20 years.
“We wanted to go one step further and win a game – but once we got the taste for it, everything just snowballed.”
Cooper, whose Under-17s fought back from two goals down against Spain to win their World Cup final in the steamy oppression of Kolkata last month, said: “I hope there were a lot of young kids watching because, like everyone else, we were utterly inspired by what had happened in the summer.
“It gave us motivation and belief, and showed what young footballers in this country are capable of achieving.”
Latibeaudiere, one of three Manchester City players in the Under-17s team – along with Phil Foden, who made his senior debut in the Champions League against Feyenoord on Tuesday night – said: “It's been an incredible year.
“To captain an England team that wins a world cup at any level is very special, and this award is fantastic recognition for the game.”
Six-times Paralympic champion David Weir was given a lifetime achievement award for his services to wheelchair racing.
Pride of Sport celebrates the unsung heroes of grass roots sport and those who have achieved extraordinary feats in the face of adversity.
Among the A-Listers at the event were Olympic champions Dame Kelly Holmes, Sally Gunnell, Greg Rutherford, Amy Williams and James Cracknell, England football stars David Seaman, Sol Campbell and Jermain Defoe, five-times Paralympic champion Hannah Cockroft, former world featherweight champion Barry McGuigan and Tour de France sprint star Mark Cavendish.
The prestigious team of the year award went to Dale Youth Boxing Club in honour of their stoic determination following the harrowing Grenfell Tower disaster.
The club moved into the base of the tragic west London tower at the turn of the millennium, producing a string of world champions including George Groves and James DeGale.
July’s horrific blaze could have forced a sad end for the club. But within days they were training on a patch of ground outside and have now found a temporary home in Ladbroke Grove.
Their determination to continue is symbolic of the area’s desire to battle back and they were duly celebrated.
Racing driver Billy Monger, meanwhile, was awarded with the Special Recognition prize.
After losing his legs in a horrific crash, Monger has inspired racing fans and the wider public with his incredible determination to bounce back.
Monger was driving at 120mph when he hit a stationary car on the Donington race track in April during a Formula 4 race. Doctors were unable to save his lower legs, both of which had to be amputated.
Within three months, the teenager was pictured with a beaming smile on the bonnet of his Team Brit Racing car at Brands Hatch and vowing to return to the track sooner rather than later.
“Grassroots sport brings people together and represents so many of the things we love about this country,” said host Ben Shephard.
“We all start somewhere, whether that’s children taking up a sport, or someone who hasn’t exercised for years taking their first steps towards getting fit, and these awards celebrate the amazing people who make that possible.”
The awards, which are backed by Sport England, honour people who have gone the extra mile to help others achieve their goals, and those who have triumphed against adversity.
Jennie Price, Chief Executive of Sport England, said: “We want everyone, regardless of age, background, or level of ability, to feel able to engage in sport and physical activity, and the unsung heroes honoured in these awards are the people who help make this happen across the country week in, week out.
"Whether it’s as volunteers running clubs and coaching, or as participants inspiring others by way they push themselves to overcome barriers, they all thoroughly deserve this recognition.”
Here are is the full list winners:
TEAM OF THE YEAR – Dale Youth Boxing Club
SPECIAL RECOGNITION – Billy Monger
COACH OF THE YEAR – Maryam Ali
Leeds-based community coach Maryam Ali is introducing cricket to the next generation of female cricketers in Yorkshire, running girl-only sessions taking the sport into inner-city venues across Bradford and Leeds. Firmly believing that Asian girls need a ‘safe space’ to express their cricket ability, Maryam has transformed the coaching provision available for a tough to reach section of British society – and the aspiring players she has worked with are embracing her message.
SPORTING FUNDRAISER – Mick Cullen
Speedo Mick has become a fixture at Everton games home and away, raising more than £100,000 for charity by taking his seat in the stands in his trademark trunks.
Whatever the weather, Mick is there in his trunks and goggles collecting money for charity, and he’s become a fan favourite in the process.
SPORTING ACHIEVEMENT – Si-am Juntakereket
Si-am is a Cornish schoolboy aged 14 who cycled across Australia in 29 days, beating the previous record by a child by 16 days. During his ride he covered around 100 miles a day at an average speed of 20mph, and slept in a tent at night – an incredible achievement for such a young man.
YOUNG ACHIEVER – Isabelle Weall
Isabelle was just seven when she collapsed with multiple organ failure and a heart attack as a result of meningitis. As a result of her illness Isabelle became a quadruple amputee.
The odds of her scaling the heights in the world of trampolining appeared remote but today the 15- year-old is recognised as one of the most talented young trampolinists in the country, and is doing all she can to inspire others.
CHILD OF COURAGE – Ella Chadwick
Ella’s life was transformed by a kidney transplant - and now she’s determined to do all she can to thank the doctors and nurses who looked after her. Ella, aged 10, has completed a fun run for charity and made ‘get well soon’ cards for hundreds of poorly children.
She was born with a rare kidney disease and has spent much of her life in hospital, having to undergo more than 40 operations. Her life was transformed when her grandmother donated one of her kidneys in 2014, and now she’s putting her efforts into supporting the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital and raising funds to help other sick children.
DISABLED SPORTSPERSON OF THE YEAR – Claire Lomas
When Claire Lomas completed the Great North Run it was hailed as one of the most incredible sporting achievements of 2016. Paralysed from the chest down in 2007 as of the result of a riding accident, Claire completed the half marathon in a ‘bionic suit’, taking five days to complete the course. She has raised more than £575,000 for the Nicholls Spinal Injury Foundation which is helping scientists to make fresh breakthroughs.
YOUNG FUNDRAISER – Callum Smart
When Callum’s best friend was killed in a road accident, he was determined some good should come out of the tragedy. The schoolboy came up with the idea of a ‘virtual run’ to raise money in his memory, inspiring thousands of people all around the world to join in. The charity ‘Brake’ were so impressed by the idea that they decided to launch the ‘virtual run’ as a national campaign.
TSB COMMUNITY PARTNER – Streetsport
Since it was set up in Aberdeen in 2015, Streetsport has transformed the lives of the 16,000 people who regularly participate in its sessions including street football, street tennis and street dance. Using sport as a means of touching the hardest to reach sections of society, Streetsport has been widely commended both by youth organisations and by the police.
YOUNG SPORTSPERSON – Taeja James
The 15-year-old Nottingham-born gymnast dominated this year’s British Championships at Liverpool’s Echo Arena in March, winning the all-round title and showing why she’s one of the UK’s most highly rated young sportspeople.
INSPIRATIONAL PERFORMANCE – England’s Young Lions
England’s Young Lions have outclassed their rivals this summer, and provided a glimpse of a golden future for English football, with the under-17s, under-19s and under-20s delivering a trophy-laden summer.
- To find out more about the Pride of Sport Awards 2017, visit: www.prideofsportawards.co.uk - and on YouTube @prideofsport