The Barclays Premier League season is far from over, but Manchester United claimed a title yesterday. The story of Sir Bobby Charlton's life at Old Trafford, My Manchester United Years, was named Best Autobiography at the sixth annual British Sports Book Awards.

The widely acclaimed book narrowly defeated Winning is not Enough, by Sir Jackie Stewart, the former racing driver. With James Lawton, his ghostwriter, Charlton is close to finishing the second volume of his story, which will focus on his England career. He was present at the Café Royal in Central London to collect his award.

“I'm honoured,” he said. “Writing it [the book] was an absolute pleasure. I love my club - to talk about my club is not a problem. It's more than just nostalgic when you go back and think about what happened in Munich.”

His memories of the Munich air disaster 50 years ago are the work's most affecting passages. “The Manchester United of today was born with the people that lost their lives in Munich and it was a big part of the book,” he said.

Charlton said that in his ambassadorial role as a United director he has witnessed the club grow into a global force greater than Matt Busby, his former manager, could have imagined. “I'm very pleased to see the club still prosper, keep going forward, always being a threat for the championship,” Charlton said. “That's what Matt Busby, and now Alex Ferguson, demands. It's just a terrific ride being at Manchester United.”

Charlton offered high praise to Ferguson. “He's a marvellous manager,” he said. “People must understand now that he may be the greatest manager that's ever been. Without people noticing, he changes things and suddenly you realise it's all been changed, new players in - he's a genius at getting the best from his players.”

Andy Ripley, the former England rugby union player, gave a moving speech after winning Best Rugby Book for Ripley's World, the story of his battle against cancer. In Search of Robert Millar, by Richard Moore, won Best Biography, sponsored by The Times. Mark Law took Best New Writer for The Pyjama Game, Sir John Major's More Than A Game was named Best Cricket Book, Provided You Don't Kiss Me by Duncan Hamilton was awarded Best Football Book and Goodbye Gay Meadow by Matthew Ashton was judged Best Illustrated Title.