FOLKESTONE RUGBY Club coach Keith Woodward has been honoured with a top award for his work coaching women's rugby.

The 47-year-old former Army player and coach has put Folkestone women on the map building up a top rated side that are top of their league again having been promoted every season but one when they were edged out by Rosslyn Park.

He was chosen as the WRFU’s national club coach of the year and was presented with the trophy at the WRFU dinner at Twickenham.

Woodward, who lives at Lympne, was the black sheep of a Navy family by going into the army and joined Folkestone in 1993 while stationed in the area.

He coached the first team squad for a couple of seasons and also was involved with the youth sides coaching the Under-17s and Colts.

After an 18 month break from coaching he returned five years ago to take over the ladies and has made them a real force also coaching Kent Ladies for the last three years taking them to Twickenham for the county sevens where he steered them to success.

He has been delighted with his current Folkestone squad most of whom now play for the county and six have gone into the South East squad while No 8 Catherine Spencer has caught the eye of the national selectors.