MIDDLESBROUGH Football Club chairman Steve Gibson was last night named as the winner of The Northern Echo's Lifetime of Achievement Award at the Tees Valley Business Show.

Mr Gibson, was the unanimous choice of the judges for the impact he has made as a businessman, through his successful company Bulk-haul, and as the man behind the transformation of Middlesbrough Football Club.

He was unable to attend the ceremony at the Tall Trees Hotel, near Yarm, because he is out of the country.

However, leading business figures from the Tees Valley saw Mr Gibson presented with the specially-commissioned trophy by Peter Barron, editor of The Northern Echo, on a video recording made at the Riverside Stadium earlier this week.

When he was only 22, Mr Gibson set out with a capital outlay of just £2,000 and created Bulkhaul, now an international business specialising in the transportation of chemicals.

Under his chairmanship, Middlesbrough FC has been transformed from a club on the verge of bankruptcy to one performing in a new stadium and capable of attracting world-class footballers.

Mr Barron said in a presentation speech: "Steve Gibson has never forgotten his roots and believes passionately in the area and its people. His legacy will benefit the people of the Teesside area for many years to come."

Through the video link, Mr Gibson paid tribute to the many people who had helped him over the years, particularly chartered accountant Keith Robinson.

Other nominees shortlisted for the award were: Alistair Arkley, chairman of New Century Inns and the Tees Valley Partnership; John Bennett, formerly chief executive of Tees Valley Training and Enterprise Council; Rob Shotton, former chairman of Orchid Soft Drinks and now chairman of Tees Valley Business Link; Duncan Bannatyne, founder of Quality Care Homes and now building a health and fitness chain; Alan Noble, executive chairman of Northgate Motor Holdings; and Chey Garland, creator of a corporate call-handling business in Hartlepool.

The keynote speaker at last night's awards was Christopher Garnett, chief executive of GNER.

Mr Garnett said he was pleased GNER had been given only a two-year extension to its franchise to operate the East Coast Main Line.

He said the short-term licence was preferable in the light of the decision to place Railtrack in administration, but speaking at last night's show, he warned that the industry did not want to see Railtrack as a nationalised authority