A sports journalist at a regional daily has been given £1,000 and a trophy after winning an award for two exclusive stories.

Chris Jack, left, from the Glasgow Evening Times has won the Jim Rodger Memorial Award, set up in 1997 to honour the late veteran journalist of the same name.

Chris, 25, became one of the youngest winners of the award in its history, which is open to sports journalists aged 35 and under who are working on a Scottish newspaper.

The first of his winning articles was an exclusive on Partick Thistle coach Scott Allison who has founded a charity called ClubWorld Sports to help players who have “fallen out of the game but not out of love with it” get back on their feet.

Chris’ second piece was an in-depth analysis of the rows of empty stadium seats which have plagued Rangers games and illustrated the crisis at the club.

Malcolm Speed, chairman of the judges, said: “Chris Jack is a worthy winner indeed and was the stand-out entry from this year’s field. He is undoubtedly a credit to the Evening Times.”

Chris told his paper: “I am delighted to win the prestigious Jim Rodger Memorial Award this year.

“It is an honour to be recognised for my work in the Evening Times and to be one of the youngest winners to receive the award.

“I am part of an excellent team on the sports desk and I thank them for their help and support.”