The first ever Kirklees Community Sports Awards to recognise and reward those who are involved in sport within our area are launched today.

The awards, promoted by the Huddersfield Examiner and in association with Huddersfield Town, will recognise sports teams in the area, as well as recognising the often unseen work done by volunteers and those around the clubs and societies. The event will climax in a glitzy awards ceremony later in the year.

The event is partnered in association with Myers Building Supplies, Lowdhams, Ubisoft and Sainsbury’s.

Categories include Kirklees Sports Legend, Sports Personality of The Year, Young Sports Personality, Sports Team of the Year and Sports Official of the Year. Other categories include Sports Club and Sports Teacher of the Year, Outstanding Services to Sport, the Most Improved Team and the Disabled Athlete of the Year.

Huddersfield Town commercial director Sean Jarvis said: “We are delighted to work in partnership with the Huddersfield Examiner on the inaugural Kirklees Community Sports Awards. This will be a real celebration of local sport in our area and a chance to praise and thank those who make up the sporting successes of our local clubs and societies.

“The panel of judges will soon be announced and it will contain some of the biggest names in their respective fields. All have a real connection to Kirklees, a place they are proud to call their spiritual home.

“I would urge any of our local clubs to enter the Kirklees Community Sports Awards and be recognised for their efforts.”

Huddersfield Daily Examiner editor Roy Wright added: “The awards will throw the spotlight on the efforts of our sports teams and societies within Kirklees. We have tried to make the awards recognise not only the teams who have shown success, but also reward those who have added to the sporting community of Kirklees, often behind the scenes.”

Entries should ideally be no longer than 400 words and sent to: Kirklees Community Sports Awards, C/O Huddersfield Town AFC, The John Smith’s Stadium, Stadium Way, Huddersfield, HD1 6PX. For any more information phone 01484 484183.

Full list of Awards:

1. Kirklees Sports Legend

This is a person who has taken sport locally to an exceptional level and has inspired many others to achieve similar levels of excellence. The winner will probably be a professional sportsman or woman but could even be an amateur.

2. Sports Personality of the Year (amateur/open age)

The winner will be a sportsman or woman who has made a name for themselves either over the last year or over a long period of time.

3. Young Sports Personality

A person aged 18 or under who has excelled at their chosen sport. The winner may have already won several competitions or come from nowhere to make a major impact through the high calibre of their performances. They will be inspirational to other young people.

4. Sports Team of the Year

The team could be from any sport and don’t forget that school teams are also eligible for this category. They will be proven winners or have overcome great odds to reach a high level.

5. Sports Official

Sports clubs throughout Kirklees rely on unsung heroes and heroines to keep going. They may hold specific roles such as treasurer or secretary or hold several tasks and are the ‘backbone’ of their sports organisations and someone so many people rely on to ensure their club thrives … or even simply survives.

6. Sports Club

This category is open to clubs who have become real community hubs. Sport is all about enjoyment and the chance to compete and the winner of this category will have gone that extra mile to prove that sport really is for all.

7. Sports Teacher

Everyone remembers an inspirational teacher and there are countless across Kirklees who do so much above and beyond their jobs to make sure their pupils have every chance to take part in sport. We want to hear about these very special people who play such a crucial role in young people’s lives.

8. Outstanding Services to Sport

The winner will be someone who has gone well above what is expected to make their sport or sports club an outstanding success. They could be a player, an administrator, a sports official, a sports fan or a club member.

9. Most Improved club/team

Everyone likes a ‘rag to riches’ story and we want to hear about a team that has turned itself around. It may have lost every game but never lost faith and then started to win. It’s what sport is all about – that never-say-die spirit and that determination to keep competing no matter what.

10. Disabled Athlete of the Year

In recent years the Paralympics have highlighted the amazing levels disabled athletes can now attain and there are many people with physical or learning disabilities throughout Kirklees who are excelling at sport. We want to hear about them.