Beating competition from football icon David Beckham and pop star Peter Andre, England cricketer Andrew Flintoff has won the 'Celebrity Dad of the Year' award in a public vote organised by Virgin Money.
Flintoff, who is currently nursing an ankle injury, was presented the award in Manchester yesterday. The 29-year-old all-rounder has two children - Corey (1) and Holly (2) - with wife Rachel.
Flintoff bagged the award despite spending more than 200 days away from home in 2006-07. On field, he was making headlines for all the wrong reasons in the just concluded World Cup.
The flamboyant star almost drowned himself after falling off a pedalo in an inebriated state during the mega event. The incident cost him the vice-captaincy of England and his skipper Michael Vaughan went on to blame him for the team's debacle at the tournament.
Before Vaughan, Flintoff's wife had called him a "stupid bugger" for his drunken escapades.