Could YOU lift a Best of Wearside Award?
COMMUNITY CHAMP MICHAEL URGES 2018 ENTRIES
An award-winning Sunderland campaigner has reflected on a fantastic night when he and his team picked up honours.
And as he looked back on last year’s Best of Wearside Awards win, Michael Ganley urged Echo readers to enter this year’s competition.
He praised the contest, which aims to reward heroes of the community, and said there was “nothing quite like it”.
Michael’s own win came because of his work to build up a priceless collection of Sunderland AFC memorabilia, and then take it on show to the people of the North East.
It now has its own permanent base – again thanks to the campaigning work of Michael and his team.
But he believes that the Best of Wearside Awards win has helped to raise the profile of the work even further.
Reflecting on the awards night, Michael said: “We were very proud to be invited to any event that supports anything, especially in relation to the community.
“We found out that, not only had we been nominated, we had won something, which was a huge shock.
“People have seen the award and appreciate what we do. We have had a great deal of response to the win.
“It is lovely. We feel that it has been very positive.”
The work has continued ever since the win. Michael has now formally taken over at the former Monkwearmouth Station Museum building, which will house his extensive collection of football memorabilia.
It will be the fans’ museum’s first permanent home after it put on temporary displays in Hendon, The Bridges and the City Library since 2014.
Michael said: “We have moved on a great deal since