A SPORTING stalwart who has dedicated hours of his spare time to promoting junior football in York is the latest contender in our Community Pride Awards.

Neil Thorbinson, whose involvement with Haxby Town Junior Football Club spans 14 years, has been nominated in the Sporting Hero category of our awards scheme.

Neil initially joined the club as a helping parent, but has spent the past six years as the club’s chairman and secretary.

He has been put forward for the accolade by Rita McMonies, who said the club had gone from strength to strength under Neil’s management.

She said as well as dealing with all the bureaucracy associated with running a sports club, Neil constantly played a leading role in fundraising and was currently spearheading a campaign to fund the refurbishment of the football pavilion on the Ethel Ward Playing Field. She said he also played a major role in promoting a healthy lifestyle among children by running football coaching sessions at local primary schools.

Rita said: “Subsequently numbers have risen dramatically and there are now over 150 children registered within the club, aged from six to 19 years. Neil richly deserves some recognition, which is long overdue.”

The Sporting Hero category is sponsored by York Racecourse and aims to honour individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to amateur sport in a playing or non-playing capacity.

Time is running out to make a nomination in the 2010 Community Pride Awards, which we are running in conjunction with City of York Council and Benenden Healthcare Society.

To nominate your unsung hero, fill in the entry form and send it back by July 23 with a supporting statement setting out why your nominee deserves the award.


York Press: Community Pride Awards 2010 - categories and sponsors