Heroes all, but who will be your People’s Champion?
THE Manchester Sports Awards are just around the corner and the shortlist for the M.E.N.’s People’s Champion Award has been revealed.
It is now up to you, our readers, to select the winner from the four amazing candidates below.
The awards, now in their 11th year, are a great way to recognise the hard work and achievements of local coaches, volunteers, athletes, clubs and schools who have made an impact in their field.
The M.E.N. People’s Champion award goes to someone who goes far above and beyond the call of duty to make a difference within their community.
To vote for your winner – please go to manchestereveningnews.co.uk/ sport/manchester-sports-awardspeoples-champion-16968853.
Voting closes at midnight on Thursday.
JAMES GREGORY
JAMES set up Families Against Violence in 2011 following the murder of his son to ensure that young people have a pathway for their development that can turn them away from the temptations of crime and gangs.
In this time James has worked tirelessly as a coach, mentor, educator, careers advisor and role model all rolled into one. James attends every meeting, completes every report or funding application and is present at every session FAV deliver ensuring that young people that wouldn’t usually access mainstream sport have access to quality coaching whilst learning important life skills.
STEVE HEMPSTOCK
STEVE is the driving force behind City of Manchester Squash Club. Over the last seven years he has single-handedly run the club, from arranging their North West Counties League teams to training and development work.
Steve gives his entire time voluntarily and between arranging teams for fixtures, planning and delivering coaching sessions and committee meetings, gives more than 12 hours per week to the club.
Juggling club responsibilities around a busy professional career is tough but Steve does complaint.
He is well respected by staff at the facility and all his club members and they all appreciate how hard he works on their behalf. it without
TERRY SURRIDGE
TERRY first came to Manchester in 1963 as a teacher, and began a long history of success in sports coaching and administration in Wythenshawe and across the city. Since 1973 he has worked in Gorton, where he started coaching weightlifting in school and his club – Team Manchester. In 1981 he was appointed deputy head at Wright Robinson to where he transferred the programme in 1982.
Terry’s achievements within weightlifting are extensive. He organised the British Schools Championships at the college and has coached youngsters who successfully competed across the globe.
Individuals under Terry’s tutorage took part in the Commonwealth Youth Games in 2004 in an allManchester England Team.
His club was voted the British Weightlifting Association Development Club of 2013 and became the first to achieve the governing body’s Club Mark. In recent years Terry has established a highly-promising girls squad, further illustrating his inclusive philosophy.
In retirement, his commitment has never waned and he travels several times a week and at weekends to Gorton to coach young people and adults in the sport he loves.
JANICE WILSON
JANICE has worked in sport, health and fitness for more than 30 years and has volunteered in many different roles, all of which have involved putting the local community at the heart of what she does. She was the founder of Jazzy J Dance School in Wythenshawe, teaching street dance to local children and young people of all abilities including those with disabilities.
She has taken part in many community events including Manchester Day, Wythenshawe’s Got Talent and even auditioning for Britain’s Got Talent in 2014. In 2015 Janice decided to pursue her dream to open a specialised gym to support the needs of the whole community.
After successfully securing funding, in 2015 she opened her community gym, Tone & Trim offering equipment suitable for people of all ages and abilities and she has a strong client base of 50 people, aged 18 – 85 years.
She is known in Wythenshawe for her smiling face, the fun she brings and the confidence she gives to everyone she supports.