A RUGBY coach who has encouraged many youngsters in York to have a go or take up the sport has been nominated for a Community Pride Award.

Tyrone Oliver, of Hull Road, York, who is a coach for Heworth Amateur Rugby League Club under 15', is in the running for a Sporting Hero award after being nominated by his wife Leanne.

The 47-year-old, who is a DJ, also works with local schools on a voluntary basis to help children who might be struggling at school and coaching them rugby league.

In recent months, with the help of Super League club Castleford Tigers, Tyrone has set up the Try Rugby project, to get more youngsters into the sport and off the streets.

The project was funded by the department for North Yorkshire's police and crime commissioner and has proved a big success, with more than 1,000 children, aged 12 to 16-years-old, taking part.

Father-of-three Tyrone said: "It is about getting young people to try rugby, targeting schools around the York area. On a wider scale, it's about reducing crime across North Yorkshire by getting young people to participate in sport.

"The police said this project was such a massive success they are going to use it as a benchmark for future projects."

As part of the project he has held rugby sessions at Huntington School, Fulford School, Archbishop Holgate's School and Woldgate College in Pocklington.

He also ran rugby sessions every Monday for seven weeks in the Burnholme area of York for children from all schools and rugby clubs in the the York area to enjoy.

Leanne said: "Tyrone is constantly helping young children and does all the work voluntary trying to help them.

"Over the last couple of years he has gone into several secondary schools in the area and helped Heworth gain more players which has kept teams running."

Speaking about his voluntary work, Tyrone added: "You look at what is going on in communities and hear things on the news and I wanted to make a difference."

The Community Pride Awards are run by The Press in partnership with City of York Council and the primary sponsor is York-based healthcare organisation Benenden.

All nominees must live in, or contribute to life in, the City of York Council area.

Three finalists from each category will be invited to the awards ceremony at York Racecourse in October, when the winners will be revealed. Entries can be submitted to York Community Pride Awards, The Press, 84-86 Walmgate, York, YO1 9YN.

You can also nominate online at yorkpress.co.uk/communitypride

The closing date for entries is Friday, July 21.