91Èȱ¬

Joe and Maggie Forber have won the 91Èȱ¬ Sport Unsung Hero award for their work promoting basketball in Manchester.

and has worked with thousands of youngsters, including John Amaechi, who went on to play in the NBA.

Wife Maggie has worked as an administrator and official for Greater Manchester Community Basketball, the club they helped to set up in 1997.

Their early success led to a new £2m facility at Whalley Range in 2002.

The Amaechi Basketball Centre bears the name of Joe's most successful prodigy, who appeared for Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic and Utah Jazz, as well as winning a bronze medal with England at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

"He's the closest thing to a father figure I've ever had," Amaechi, who was born in America but grew up in Stockport, told 91Èȱ¬ North West Tonight. "I wanted to see his nod of approval and that would be the thing that drove me forward."

The 42-year-old added: "Joe and Maggie are really the only two people who can take any credit at all for my success in basketball, and they are, quite literally, the only two people who never take any credit."

Around 1,500 players use the Amaechi Basketball Centre each week.

"It's no hardship at all," said Joe. "It's what I enjoy doing. I like sport and I think it's got great value for kids."