BBC Unsung Hero Awards
The BBC in East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire is once again looking for that individual who has contributed behind the scenes for the annual Unsung Hero award. Last year's was won by Lincolnshire judo teacher Julie Norman. Previous winners include Hull Sunday League official Wally Owst and Hull Stingers wheelchair basketball coach Peter Shakesby from East Yorkshire.
This year Look North are planning to film with former Scunthorpe United and Liverpool goalkeeper Ray Clemence to see who inspired him as a youngster growing up in Lincolnshire.
If you wish to nominate your unsung hero just following the instructions on www.bbc.co.uk/sportsunsunghero or call 0845 308 8000 if you would rather make a suggestion by post. Remember the person you propose must take no reward and agree to being contacted by the BBC.
We look forward to lots of suggestions coming from East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire too. The deadline is October 30th.
The BBC Sport Unsung Hero aims to recognize volunteers within your sport or within your club – the winners will be publicized on BBC Look North and will also be invited to the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards. Te overall national winner could even come from the Humber?
The BBC's Sports Unsung Hero Award, now in its eighth year, seeks to reward those who dedicate their life to sport in their local areas. Many of our past winners have achieved incredible results against the odds. They've built swimming pools from scratch, created inner city sports clubs, helping disability sport grow, things that add real value to their communities as well as fostering sporting talent and success.
Judo coach Julie Norman has been named BBC's Yorkshire & Lincolnshire sporting Unsung Hero for 2010.
Julie, 54, was entered for the national Unsung Hero final at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards where the national winner was revealed.
Involved in judo for nearly 40 years, she has been a senior coach for more than 22 of them.
She currently volunteers for more than 12 hours a week as a coach at the Acorn Judo Club in Digby, Lincolnshire.
The club has around 70 members from the villages and RAF bases around the Sleaford area. Upon receiving the award, Norman told BBC Look North: "It's absolutely fantastic and I can't thank the parents enough.
"The judges were particularly impressed with the extra effort Julie made to help young people with confidence problems into the sport"
BBC Radio Lincolnshire news and sports editor Michael Hortin
"They [the pupils] make it a pleasure to teach, they can be little devils at times but they are good."
BBC Radio Lincolnshire news and sports editor Michael Hortin, who helped judge the award, said: "The standard of entries was very high, but the panel of judges felt Julie's commitment to judo over a long period of time in rural Lincolnshire should be recognised.
"The judges were particularly impressed with the extra effort Julie made to help young people with confidence problems into the sport."
Now in its eighth year, the BBC Sports Unsung Hero Award recognises and rewards outstanding contribution by individuals at the grassroots level of local sport, who give up their time on a voluntary basis so that sport can be played and enjoyed by people throughout the UK.
The judging panel for the Yorkshire & Lincolnshire unsung hero award 2010 were: Michael Hortin - Chairman; David Jennings - Head of Regional & Local Programming BBC Yorkshire & Lincolnshire; Charlie Partridge - Managing Editor; BBC Lincolnshire; Gwilym Lloyd - BBC Radio Humberside; John Pakey - Sports Editor Lincolnshire Echo, Janet Inman - Lincolnshire Sports Partnership; Richard Munson - Humber Sport Partnership.