Nominate your local sporting heroes

Matthew Moss Youth Centre helps launch the Pride of Rochdale Borough Awards

As the Olympic Torch sets off on its journey around the UK, Rochdale is getting ready to recognise its own local sporting heroes.

If you know a person or club that has made a difference through sport in your neighbourhood or community then nominate them today for a Pride of Rochdale Borough award.

This is the first year the awards have taken place and there are six sports categories that need your nominations:

• Coach of the Year
• Unsung Hero in Sport Award
• Club of the Year
• Sports Achiever of the Year
• Volunteer in Sport of the Year
• Disabled Sport Achiever of the Year

The criteria is set on the quality of the nomination and not the number of nominations each individual gets. Individuals and clubs can nominate themselves.

We have hundreds clubs in the borough who improve peoples lives through sport and many talented athletes so we want to make sure they get the recognition they deserve.

Julie Durrant, Community Sports Development Officer of Link4Life said: “These awards have been launched in the International year of Co-operatives to recognise the co-operative value of people working together for the benefit of their community. We have so many sports clubs and volunteers in the borough who improve people’s lives and many talented athletes, so we want to make sure they get the recognition they deserve.”

Winners will be announced at a special awards ceremony at Middleton Arena on 27 September and they will then go on to be considered for the Greater Manchester Sports Award to be held on Friday 9 November 2012 at The Point, Lancashire Cricket Club in Manchester.

To nominate your local sporting hero, complete the short form at:

www.rochdale.gov.uk/prideof

Closing dates is 31 July 2012