DANNY Cleare has won coach of the year in the Echo Sports Awards for 2015.

Cleare guided Seevic College’s rugby team to the final of the NatWest National Schools Cup at Twickenham last March.

But he was still shocked to pick up prize in a surprise presentation in front of hundreds of pupils.

“It’s a massive surprise for me to have won,” said Cleare, who also plays on the wing for Southend Saxons.

“I was surprised to be even get the nomination in the first place but I’m even more surprised to have won it.

“It’s a good feeling but it’s not just about me because I have a great coaching team around me and the boys are also a massive reason why I’ve probably won it.”

Cleare has worked wonders since taking control of the Thundersley based sixth form’s rugby programme.

And he will never forget taking the team to Twickenham.

“It was a massive highlight for us all,” said the 28-year-old.

“Of course we will strive to try and do it again but it might not ever happen.

“It was something really special and some of the players the lads were up against are now playing in the Premiership.

“To beat the schools we did was some achievement and it was nice to get as far as we did.”

Seevic were beaten 13-5 by Churcher’s College in the final.

But the memorable run has helped attract far more young players to the programme which continues to thrive.

“The numbers are as big as they’ve ever been,” said Cleare.

“The programme is getting bigger and better on the back of what happened last year and hopefully it will continue that way.

“We know it will be hard to try and match what we did last year but next time we want to go and win it.

“That’s the ambition and everyone is working extremely hard to try and make that happen.”

TOP THREE

1. Danny Cleare (rugby), 2. Scott Hann (gymnastics), 3. Phil Brown (football)/Danny Cowley

PANEL’S VERDICT

This category attracted far more votes than any others in this year’s Echo Sports Awards but Danny emerged as a deserved winner.

To guide Seevic past several private schools who had been playing together since the age of 11 was a truly fantastic achievement.

And for the college to get to play at Twickenham was also remarkable.

The cup run was not just a highlight of 2015, it was right up there with the best sporting achievements in our area from the last decade.

TOMORROW: TEAM OF THE YEAR & MOMENT OF THE YEAR