A DEDICATED sports coach who goes above and beyond for his team has been nominated for the York Community Pride Awards.

Darren Nunn has coached Woodthorpe Wanderers Football Club for the past 11 years.

The 49-year-old, from Dringhouses, has been nominated for the Sporting Hero Award by a parent at the club, Claire Wilson.

She said: “Daz has been an amazing coach and mentor over the last 11 years to the lads at Woodthorpe Wanderers Football Club. Over the years he has given up his family and social time to support these lads with coaching on Saturday mornings and games on Sundays, along with all the planning and management that goes with this behind the scenes.

“He has been a great support to all the lads over the years and given them great opportunities and experiences. Daz is a genuinely nice guy who will do anything for the lads in this team. He has taught them skills they will take with them throughout their adult life. People like him are priceless .”

The club sadly folded at the end of last season because of plans to develop their home at the former Lowfield School site.

Darren said: “It was a real surprise to be nominated, I don’t like to be thought of as anything special. It was heartbreaking that the club had to close.”

One of the highlights of his time as coach was organising a trip to Barcelona with the team and their dads, where they watched Barcelona FC play a match. He said: “It was absolutely fantastic, it’s something I will never forget. We have done lots of trips, just to treat the boys a little bit because they play brilliantly every single time. I have had a lot of help from the parents, it’s like a family. As long as the boys are enjoying playing, that’s what matters. Just seeing them grow up from young kids to become men is rewarding.

“Every single player that had ever played for me got together for one last match. It made me feel that the lads appreciated what I had done for them.”

For information about the awards visit yorkpress.co.uk/communitypride.