The day Jermain and Kane showed what pride of sport is all about
By awards host BEN SHEPHARD
A WONDERFUL story came to light during the World Cup.
Former England striker Jermain Defoe revealed that he was once driving home from training with Tottenham when he saw a group of young lads, aged about 10 or 11, playing five-a-side.
He stopped his car and joined in with them for a while, before driving off and thinking no more about it.
He only discovered years later that one of the kids was Harry Kane, who grew up to be England’s striker, captain and World Cup Golden Boot winner.
That story sums up two of the reasons I’m delighted to once again host the Mirror’s Pride of Sport Awards, in partnership with TSB.
Firstly, Jermain giving up his time to give those kids a chance to play with their hero is a lovely example of the selflessness at the heart of these awards.
And it reminds us that right now the next Harry Kane is kicking a ball about in the park with his mates somewhere.
In parks, on playing fields and in sports halls, gyms and pools, young people are taking their first steps in sport.
But none could do it without volunteers, from dedicated coaches to groundskeepers, people raising money for vital equipment and the army of mums and dads who give up their time.
Those endlessly supportive parents and competitors taking part for the love of the game are the true lifeblood of sport in Britain.
Pride of Sport celebrates these unsung heroes – from volunteers to coaches and young people who have met awe-inspiring challenges.
They are out there making a difference in every community and we need you to help us find them. It may be someone who gives up their time to run a club, a coach who has transformed a team or someone who has pushed themselves to the limit to raise money for a good cause. Last year’s winners were all this and more. We celebrated inspirational young people like Billy Monger, the teenage racing driver who refused to give up after losing his legs in a horrific crash and Si-am Juntakereket, who was just 13 when he completed a record-breaking bike ride across Australia. Teen gymnast Taeja James was our Young Sportsperson of the Year and we also honoured Izzy Weall, who lost her arms and legs at the age of seven to meningitis and became a national trampoline champion.
And Callum Smart, who set up a virtual charity to raise £22,000 in memory of his best friend killed in a road accident.
Ella Chadwick, who endured more than 40 operations before a kidney transplant, completed the Mini Great Manchester Run to help raise £3,000 for the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.
Dale Youth Boxing Club refused to give up when their gym was destroyed in the Grenfell fire and our TSB Community Partner Award winner was Streetsport, which has cut crime in Aberdeen after getting 16,000 youngsters involved in sport. As well as grassroots heroes, we also celebrated elite competitors who inspired the nation – England’s Young Lions, the Under-20 and Under-17 World Cup winners and Under-19 European champions.
Last year’s awards was a stellar night and the presence of so many champions was a wonderful reminder that top sport has the power to inspire.
But when you cheer on your favourites, remember they all took their first steps to glory at a local club and nominate someone you think deserves an award at the Pride of Sport Awards dinner at London’s Grosvenor House in December.