Ryan Giggs, the award ceremony and the amazing beard

Last night Ryan Giggs won the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year award. Side-stepping the obvious reservations about whether Giggs truly deserved the award on the basis of pure sporting achievement over the last 12 months (some sympathy must be extended to those nominees who'd actually won world title's and set world records during the past year), it was a fitting recognition of a player who has not only had a stunning career, and who at 36 can still turn out top quality performances for a title-winning side, but also someone who is genuinely liked and admired for his personal qualities as well as professional abilities.

As Giggs rose from his seat to accept the award I couldn't help but be amazed by the gentleman with the extraordinary beard sitting to his left. By his reaction and subsequent embracing the gent was clearly a member of the Gigg's family, but he certainly made for an incongruous sight, more reminiscent of Grandpa from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang than a family member of a modern footballer. He was my hero of the night.

The Joy

The Embrace

The Beard