PT Sports awards: Jimmy Dean is the king of Peterborough Sport after pipping who he believes is the biggest sports personality in the city’s history

The charismatic and passionate local football manager secured a notable Peterborough Telegraph Sports Awards double by winning the Sports Personality of the Year and Coach of the Year prizes.

Sports also picked up the Footballer of the Year prize through Dion Sembie-Ferris and the Lifetime Achiever award through Stephen ‘Tommy’ Cooper.

Dean has been banging on the door for recognition for years after leading Sports FC to three titles, three promotions and eight trophies in just four seasons.

In 2019 he steered his side to the Southern League Central Division One crown and Division One play-off success as Sports clinched a place in step three football for the first time in the club’s history.

More glory could have been on the way this season as well as Sports were top of the Southern League Premier Central Division when the competition came to an abrupt halt.

Dean pipped Posh chairman Darragh MacAnthony, Peterborough Phantoms ice hockey coach Slava Koulikov and Peterborough Panthers speedway legend Hans Andersen to the personalty prize.

“I’m genuinely delighted, but in my mind Darragh MacAnthony is the biggest and best sports personality the city has ever seen.

“What he has done at Posh is remarkable and just to compete against him is an honour.

“It’s the same with the other contenders who are big and successful names in their sports.

“I have never competed at the level they have so I was just honoured to receive a nomination and to win is just unbelievable.

“I’m pleased for everyone associated with our small club, especially the players who have been consistently brilliant.

“It’s a shame we didn’t win the team of the year as well, but the players can certainly share my award.

“I’m really happy for Dion Sembie-Ferris as not only is he an outstanding players, he’s also a lovely, lovely man.

“He made 25 appearances for Colchester in the Football League, but he is so humble and he’s been an absolute pleasure to work with.

“Tommy Cooper has also played a big part in our success. He’s taken more of a back seat now, but current chairman Grant Biddle has carried on the good work behind the scenes.”

MacAnthony has owned Posh for 13 years. The club has achieved their most consistent run of success in that time with two promotions to the Championship and a third bid cut short by the current coronavirus scare.

Koulikov is another long-serving titan of local sport. He’s coached Phantoms for eight season, a time of unrivalled success for the city ice hockey side. He led Phantoms to three titles in the 2018-219 campaign.

Andersen has been a fantastic servant to Panthers and he overcame some on and off track demons to ride hard for the team last year.

Koulikov was also a runner-up in the coach category as was long-serving athletics mentor Russ Prosser.