Bolton Wanderers chairwoman, Sharon Brittan, was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

She has led Bolton Wanderers from some of the toughest days in the club’s history, stepping in just as the club faced liquidation in 2019.

Since then, she has been ever present not just as a figurehead for Wanderers themselves but for the English Football League.

Her openness about the financial challenges faced by clubs outside the Premier League, cut off from scales of wealth that increasingly defy belief exemplify this.

Wanderers know better than most what it means to face these challenges, and all the while she has been a key voice on the airwaves, in the boardroom and in parliament.

Ms Brittan said: "I'm so happy.

"This is my proudest moment in the five years I've been here.

"Nothing brings people together like football does.

"It makes me cry, I'm utterly humbled."

Ms Brittan, a self-professed ‘Manchester girl’ said she’d like to see more English owners in English football.

She added: “This football club is a very positive place to be at the moment and I’m looking forward to the future.”

The Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by Bolton Council, is a special accolade to honour a person who has made an outstanding contribution to a business and who has been prominent in the community.

Last year, a long-standing employee was honoured with the award for his half-a-century of service.

The award was handed down to Steve Harvey in recognition of his work with Kay Street Land Rover dealership Vertu Motors.

Ms Brittan was chosen carefully as the winner by Bolton News’ editor, Richard Duggan.