Golden Ticket Finalists Secure Place At West Midlands Community Sports Awards
Six finalists from Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent all have the chance to claim their own regional award this month, after being selected to represent their county at the West Midlands Community Sports Awards.
A veteran community football club chairman from Cannock is in with a chance of representing the Midlands at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year, after being named as a finalist in the prestigious BBC Midlands Sport Unsung Hero Award.
Keith Hardy, chairman of Wyrley Juniors FC, is one of three finalists in the regional award, which recognises those who have dedicated their lives to community sport. If he wins, he will go up against other regional winners for the national award, which is presented live on BBC at the famous BBC Sports Personality of the Year event.
Keith is one of six finalists from Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent who all have the chance to claim their own award this month, after being selected to represent their county at the West Midlands Community Sports Awards.
The list includes David Rigby, a volunteer coach for 31 years at Kidsgrove Cricket Club; Bethan Rees, an aspiring javelin thrower from Cannock and Stafford AC.
Tamworth Boxing Club, which works with more than ten local schools to provide Alternative Education Provision, and Real Girls Cannock, a project which aims to encourage inactive girls to be more active, are also in with a chance of winning.
All six have already been named as winners in the local Sport Across Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent Awards in recognition of their sporting talent, or their commitment to help others through the power of sport.
They will now go up against other finalists from the West Midlands region after being named on the shortlist for the event at Villa Park on 30 November, hosted by Nick Owen and Mary Rhodes from BBC Midlands.
Mark Thornewill from Sport Across Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent said: “The West Midlands Community Sports Awards are designed to recognise the power of sport in the local community and we are delighted that these finalists have been selected to represent Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.
“It is a remarkable achievement to have been named on the regional shortlist and they can all be extremely proud of their achievements.”
The West Midlands Community Sports Awards is run by six County Sports Partnerships across the region; Black Country BeActive Partnership; Coventry, Solihull & Warwickshire Sport; Energize Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin; Sport Across Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent; Sport Birmingham; and Sports Partnership Herefordshire & Worcestershire.
The awards recognise sports clubs, projects and individuals that have made a difference in their local community across six different categories; Community Club Award, Community Project Award, Community Coach of the Year, Aspiring Talent Award, Power of Sport Award and the BBC Midlands Sport Unsung Hero Award.
One individual or team will also be inducted into the BBC Midlands Sporting Hall of Fame, joining previous winners including Sir Stanley Matthews, Dennis Amiss, Gordon Banks, Dave Moorcroft and Richie Woodall.
For more details visit www.westmidlandscommunitysportsawards.co.uk.