Former West Ham ace delights youth footballers

The former West United, Everton and England striker was on hand at the Hastings Centre on Monday evening to hand out the various awards.

Willing to pose for photographs and sign autographs, Cottee certainly lived up to his reputation as one of the game's true gentlemen.

"It's always nice to put something back into football," said Cottee, now a pundit with Sky Sports and BBC Radio Five Live, "and it's important not to forget the thrill you had as a kid."

1066 Sporting Club Rother & South East Sussex Youth Football League roll of honour 2004-05: under-10s - Tesco Red Division, Little Common Minors; Tesco Blue Division, New Romney Sports Club; Tesco Cup, Little Common Minors. Under-11s - BeSure Security Systems Yellow Division, Grasshopper Junior Yellow (Lydd); BeSure Security Systems East Division, Grasshopper Junior Green; BeSure Security Systems West Division, Hastings Town Red; Futon & Pine Shield (7-a-side), Grasshopper Junior Yellow; BeSure Security Systems Cup, Grasshopper Junior Green. Under-12s - Red Division, Hastings Athletic; Blue Division, Stone Cross Youth; Wayne Russell Cup, Hastings Town Minors. Under-13s - Red Division, New Romney Sports Club; Blue Division, Eastbourne Borough Youth; Top Flight Trophy, New Romney Sports Club. Under-14s - BeSure Security Systems Red Division, Hastings Town Youth; BeSure Security Systems Cup, Hastings Town Youth. Under-15s - Red Division, Grasshopper Junior; Blue Division, Guestling Rangers; Challenge Cup, Little Common Youth. Under-16s - Red Division, Bexhill Town & Old Town Boys (shared); Blue Division, JC Tackleway; Lawrie Webber Cup, Bexhill Town Youth.

Top Flight Supplies sportsmanship award winners: Pat Bligh Award (most sporting club), Eastbourne Borough. Under-10s - Tesco Red Division, Little Common Colts; Tesco Blue Division, Hastings Rangers Black. Under-11s - BeSure Security Systems Yellow Division, Bexhill Town Youth; BeSure Security Systems East Division, Hastings Gunners Red; BeSure Security Systems West Division, Pevensey & Westham. Under-12s - Red Division, Hastings Rangers; Blue Division, JC Tackleway. Under-13s - Red Division, Rye Bay; Blue Division, Glenco Blue. Under-14s - BeSure Security Systems Red Division, New Romney Sports Club. Under-15s - Red Division, Hastings Athletic; Blue Division, Guestling Rangers. Under-16s - Red Division, Catsfield Youth; Blue Division, Rye Bay.

Other award winners: 1066 Sporting Club Trophy - Grasshopper Junior u11s; Young Referee Of The Year - Jack Coleman; Referee Of The Year - Patrick Cunningham; Alf Holdstock Trophy - Ian Grant.

Any new teams wishing to enter the league, or new referees, should contact the league secretary on 438807 or league chairman on 442147 for details. Further information can be found on the league's website at www.rother.org.uk