Wolves fan is voted a hero down under

Nigel Jones" class="imageframe imgalignright" height="130" src="http://www.expressandstar.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/wd2652299nigel-1-tt-02.thumbnail.jpg" width="175"/>A Wolves nut who left the region more than 20 years ago to pursue his dream at helping children in Australia pick up the beautiful game has officially become a hero in his native land.

Nigel Jones, who was born and bred in Bradmore before leaving these shores to live in Perth, beat thousands of hopefuls to be named Hero of the Year in Western Australia – a hugely important ceremony Down Under. The 45-year old, who can count former iconic football manager Brian Clough as an admirer, has coached more than 10,000 young soccer hopefuls in his new land.

He was also shortlisted for Western Australia's overall Australian of the Year, where he got down to the final round of votes.

The export rubbed shoulders with Australia's best artists, health pioneers, writers, researchers, and educators in a ceremony at Parliament House in Canberra.

"It was a great honour for me, and something I could never have imagined possible when I was younger," he said. "I was born in Hughes Avenue, Bradmore, and still miss Wolverhampton a lot.

"I got into coaching youths at Nottingham Forest during the Brian Clough days, and I still remember what he said to me the first time I saw him.

"He looked at me and said 'take those damn sunglasses off', because he said the kids I was coaching couldn't see my eyes. And you know, I've never worn them when I've trained kids since."

He left England to set off for Australia in 1987, and got a job as a head coach with a semi-professional Australian soccer team. He turned around a run down sports department at a school in Perth called Morley Senior High, making it an 'Institute of Soccer'.

He has forged a link with his boyhood team by having regular contact with Wolves.

Mr Jones said: "I used to always go down Wolves matches when I was living here, and I'd love it if I could find the next star for them."

But Back in Wolverhampton, there is only one thing on his mind. "I'll be at Molineux on Tuesday for Wolves v Southampton," he said.