Greater Manchester’s unsung sporting heroes were honoured by Olympian, Iwan Thomas MBE, at this year’s Greater Manchester Sports Awards sponsored by ANS.
Each nominee had already been crowned champion, in their local sports awards, before going through to the shortlist for the Greater Manchester-wide awards which took place at The Point, Emirates Old Trafford on Friday 7th November.
BBC North West Tonight presenter Roger Johnson hosted the event, which included a drinks reception, four course dinner and disco with BBC Radio Manchester broadcasting live online as official media partners of the event.
Organised by Greater Manchester sports charity, GreaterSport and event organisers Journey 9, and in it’s 14th year, the awards are held to honour the achievements of people involved in grassroots sport across Greater Manchester.
Yvonne Harrison, CEO of GreaterSport, organisers of the event, said: “GreaterSport is proud to host these annual awards to be able to recognise and celebrate these individuals and clubs who are working week in, week out to make a difference in their local communities.
“The nominees at the Greater Manchester Sports Awards are the people that are making sport happen across our county, and without them and people like them, community sport would not be what it is.”
The categories and winners were:
– Adrian Fleming (Wigan) Coach of the Year sponsored by Gorilla BC
– Leigh Genesis Football Club (Wigan) Club of the Year sponsored by Network Rail
– Craig McNeil (Trafford) Disabled Sports Achiever of the Year sponsored by PZ Cussons
– Jessica Taylor (Manchester) Sports Achiever of the Year sponsored by Xtra Mile events
– John Mellor (Oldham) Unsung Hero sponsored by Manchester United Foundation
– Jeff Johnson (Wigan) Volunteer of the Year sponsored by Journey9
– Roger Varnom (Rochdale) Changing Lifestyle Recognition Award sponsored by Nikal
An independent panel decided that Adrian Fleming would also receive our Be Inspired Award, this accolade goes to the winner who is judged to be having the widest impact in sport across Greater Manchester.
An additional award was this year given to Richard Saunders, who retired from his post as Chief Executive at GreaterSport in July, he was awarded a special recognition award, for his achievements’ to community sport since starting the Greater Manchester Youth Games in 1999.
