Now in its 12th Year The Northern Echo Local Heroes Awards has grown to be the region’s premier grassroots sports awards.
Local Heroes celebrates, recognises and rewards achievements in grassroots sports, giving our local heroes a night to remember.
A host of sporting celebrities will be present to help celebrate another memorable 12 months on the local sporting scene, but as ever, the real stars of the show will be the sportsmen, sportswomen, volunteers and officials who make our region such a vibrant area for grassroots action.
Last year, the overall Local Hero award went to 75-year-old John Schofield, who was honoured for a lifetime's commitment to tennis in the North-East and North Yorkshire.
John, who received his award from Middlesbrough manager Tony Mowbray and North-East athletics legend Brendan Foster, has spent more than 40 years supporting and promoting tennis after starting to work with Ya rm Tennis Club in 1968. As well as giving countless youngsters their first taste of the sport, John also pioneered disability tennis, both in the North-East and nationally.
Last year's judges said: "John's story represents what these awards are all about - celebrating the achievements and dedication of ordinary people doing extraordinary things in the world of grassroots sport.He has touched so many lives through four decades of hard work and it is high time he was recognised."
As well as discovering the region’s most talented sports people, Local Heroes identifies and rewards those people who work behind the scenes. Often they do it for the love of it, and dedicate their lives to grassroots sport, without receiving any recognition.
Who do you know who has given 100 percent and achieved great things in 2011? Are they a sports person, coach, volunteer, groundsman or even a sports club or team?
If you think they deserve a chance of winning one of the coveted Northern Echo Local Heroes Awards, ensure you nominate them.
The awards evening will be taking place on Thursday, December 1, at Hardwick Hall Hotel in Sedgefield. Have a look at the dedicated web site at localheroesawards.co.uk to find out more about last year’s awards, winners and sponsors.
Remember, if you don’t nominate, people who deserve to win and be recognised for their contributions to sport may miss out on winning an award!
If you know a Local Hero, make sure they get the credit they deserve.