Joe & Maggie Forber Win 2013 BBC Sports Personality Unsung Hero Award - Hoopsfix.com

Joe & Maggie Forber Win 2013 BBC Sports Personality Unsung Hero Award

Joe and Maggie Forber have won the 2013 BBC Sports Personality Unsung Hero Award for their tireless work and dedication to basketball in Manchester.

Joe and Maggie are the lifeblood of Great Manchester Community Basketball Club, which they helped set up in 1997, having dedicated their lives to it since retiring as teachers decades ago.

The Manchester Magic programme, based out of the Amaechi Basketball Centre, have been a regular fixture in the Final Fours across all age groups, male and female, winning countless titles over the past 15+ years and providing an outlet for thousands of players across the North West.

“We have have done it together and without Maggie it just wouldn’t have happened,” said Forber at the awards ceremony, which was broadcast on the BBC.

“Over 1,000 youngsters a week pass through the centre. It has been an honour for us to work there and we will continue to do so as long as we can and as long as our health stands up.

“I want to say, quite sincerely, that I don’t think we’re any different from hundreds of thousands of people who do voluntary work, not just in sport but in other things as well. I just feel that we’re representing those people tonight and it’s a privilege to be here.”

The award follows their regional honour for the North West last month, which put them forward as nominees for the national award on Sunday night.

Hoopsfix wants to say a huge congratulations and thanks to both Joe and Maggie for all their work for basketball in the UK!

Image Credit: Manchester Evening News

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