TEACHER Rob Faulkner is one in a million as far as his pupils at Tottington High School are concerned, for they wrote to the English Schools Football Association to say how good he is.

And the association was so impressed that they named 31-year-old Mr Faulkner Schools Coach of the Year.

It has been a successful season for the school's footballers from Year 11, and they are now sharing the limelight with their sports teacher.

The judges chose him after Peter Hickford (16), who plays for the Year 11 team, wrote telling them how good he was. Along with the title, Mr Faulkner's face will also be plastered on billboards around Tottington as a local hero.

Mr Faulkner said: "It's quite nice to be nominated and receive the award but I am dreading seeing my face on the billboards. It'll be a bit embarrassing and a shock when I see them, I think." As part of the prize he has won a place on a residential course run by Sportscoach UK, gets £500 for school sports equipment and will also receive a net used in one of England's Euro 2004 games and a football signed by Wayne Rooney.