A VENUE hosting major sporting events in the city is backing an award to recognise York's unsung sport stars.

Novices and experts in any field can point to someone who has helped hone their skills and lead them on a path to medal winning glory.

They often get involved with little or no expectation of recognition, but Community Pride's Sporting Hero award aims to give the winner a taste of glory they help so many others achieve.

York Racecourse is one of the most recognisable sporting arenas in Yorkshire and is sponsoring this year's gong.

James Brennan, a spokesman for York Racecourse, said: "As with all good sponsors we are proud to have been part of the community since 1731 and proud to be part of the sporting life of the city in the same time.

"We are the biggest sporting venue with a YO postcode and we play a part in the open space of the Knavesmire with the Race for Life going around us, so we feel part of the community, and we are delighted to support unsung sporting heroes.

"When people like Frankie Dettori come here they get their pictures beamed around the world by Channel 4, so it's nice to give some others that sort of recognition."

Mr Brennan is encouraging people to recognise the humble heroes of their local team by nominating them for the award, or doing more to thank coaches by putting them forward.

"This is the right award for us," he added.

"There's plenty of people working behind the scenes in local sport and we could sponsor this for 100 years and not recognise all the work that goes on.

"We understand that for many of them they think 'it's not about me, it's about the other people in the team' but actually they all work jolly hard.

"When you get to the end of a season parents start to think about what they can get for the coach, and they usually end up with a pack of beers or flowers but you feel like you want to do more and this is something you can do.

"They won't nominate themselves and it's a good time to be thinking about all the hard and important work they do."

The Community Pride Awards are sponsored by Benenden and jointly run by The Press and City of York Council.

All nominees must live in, or contribute to life in, the City of York Council area. Around three finalists from each category will be invited to the awards ceremony at York Racecourse in October, when the winners will be revealed.

You can make a nomination at yorkpress.co.uk/pride, explaining why you think the person deserves to win an award.

Entries can be submitted until Friday, July 17, when a judging panel will then pick a winner in each category.