JOHN ALDRIDGE described winning the inaugural Dave Russell Memorial award as one of the proudest moments of his career.
The former Liverpool striker became a Tranmere legend during his time as a player and manager with the Birkenhead club and it was fitting that he should be the first new winner of an award named in honour of another Rovers hero.
Aldridge, who joined Tranmere for a bargain £250,000 from Spanish side Real Sociedad, scored a staggering 174 goals in 272 appearances for Tranmere.
He became player-manager in April 1996 and led Rovers to their first ever major cup final against Leicester in the League Cup in 2000.
Perhaps his proudest moment as Tranmere boss came in 2001 when he masterminded one of the greatest comebacks in FA Cup history as Rovers turned around a 3-0 deficit to beat Southampton 4-3.
Accepting the Dave Russell award at last night's ceremony, Aldridge said: "I'm incredibly proud to receive this award because I know just how important he was to Tranmere.
"Dave was with Tranmere for 57 years and his ideas, his loyalty and his commitment to the club helped it become the truly modern club we know today.
"I've been fortunate enough to win plenty of honours in the game but when you are presented with something in honour of a man as great as Dave Russell you can't help but think it is one of the proudest moments of your career."
