A Northern Ireland soccer hero has received a major award.

Harry Gregg, 76, who started his goalkeeping career at Windsor Park with Linfield, before signing for Coleraine, moving to Doncaster Rovers, and then transferring to Manchester United to enjoy a career that included 25 caps for Northern Ireland, has been honoured for his heroism.

Mr Gregg was among those who received recognition at the Daily Mirror's 10th annual Pride of Britain Awards - a glittering ceremony, attended by Prime Minister Gordon Brown and around 100 celebrities - at the London Television Centre, to pay tribute to the nation's unsung heroes.

The senior NI soccer personality won the 'Special Recognition Award' for his efforts during the 1958 Munich air crash, when he helped pull passengers, including a pregnant woman and her daughter as well as several team-mates from the aircraft wreckage.

The Munich air disaster occurred on 6 February 1958, when British European Airways Flight 609 crashed while carrying Manchester United footballers, nicknamed the 'Busby Babes', back from a European tie in Belgrade.

Of the 44 passengers on board the aircraft, 23 died in Munich, soon after refuelling at the airport.

The award was the first time he had been formally recognised for his efforts.

Others honoured in the awards ceremony were Richard Taylor, 59, the father of murdered 10-year-old Damilola Taylor.

He received the accolade from Brooke Kinsella, the ex-Eastender's actress whose brother Ben was killed in London earlier this year.

Jade Ashton, aged 6, was also recognised for dialling 999, and looking after his mother Brina when she fell into a diabetic coma.

The British Olympic and Paralympic team won a combined prize for their success in the 2008 Beijing Games.

Among the celebrities in attendance, were X Factor judge Dannii Minogue, Hollywood actor Kevin Spacey and Bruce Forsythe.

The ceremony will be shown on ITV1 on Wednesday at 8pm.

(JM)