AN emotional standing ovation at the Swindon Advertiser Sports Awards provided a fitting tribute to local football manager Dave Turner, who died in February.

The 52-year-old’s passing shocked the Swindon sporting community and to celebrate his contribution to non-league football, the Advertiser presented his family with a Special Recognition Award.

Dave was an enthusiastic and effervescent character, who managed Pewsey, Wootton Bassett and Shrivenham during his managerial career.

During a five-year spell at Wootton Bassett, Turner guided them to two promotions to the Hellenic League Premier Division and took them farther than they had ever been in the FA Cup and FA Vase.

Dave, who more recently managed Shrivenham, was nominated for our Coach of the Year award for his work with Bassett in 2013.

Having been controversially demoted in the previous season, Dave guided Bassett back to the Premier Division in 2012-13 after securing second place.

That same campaign, Bassett achieved their best-ever run in the FA Cup, beating Calne, Hamworthy and Highworth to make it to the second qualifying round where they lost 4-0 to Conference South Dorchester.

Dave was represented at the awards night by his wife Trisha and sons Alex and James.

Swindon Advertiser sports editor Steve Butt thanked his family for attending, saying: “Dave’s passing shocked us all and we wanted to do something to recognise his life and huge contribution to this community.

“I must thank and praise his family for showing the courage to pick up this award.

“It was an extremely emotional moment to see the whole room on their feet applauding but it was a fitting tribute to the great man.

“Dave was always a pleasure to deal with and would always give the Adver an interview win, lose or draw. We will certainly miss our regular chats with Dave and his passing leaves a huge gap in the non-league football community.

“Hopefully this award goes some way to recognising his life and the impact he made in non-league football.”