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They are the bedrock of British sport as we know it, and sport would be unable to function without them.

I know from my own experience how much the people behind the scenes mean to sport.

My six-year-old son Reece is a football fanatic and plays three times a week for his local under-sevens team Marple Athletic, he just loves it.

As a family we got so much pleasure when he scored a hat-trick in the team's first league game of the season last week.

But Reece's team would not be able to survive without the amount of hard work put in by a group of dedicated volunteers helping coach, support and develop the players.

That often involves giving up hours of their own time at weekends when they could easily be spending time with their own families

So we encourage you to put forward someone who you feel is an unsung hero by and sending it to us by 30 October.

All nominees will be carefully scrutinised with the 15 regional winners being chosen by judging panels which include leading figures from the sporting world and representatives from the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s nations and regions.

An overall winner will eventually be selected from those 15 and announced live during the programme in Sheffield on 13 December.

We've had some fantastic winners over the seven years the award has been running:

. He's been a major force in swimming on the Isle of Wight, building the first pool there and then tirelessly supporting the West Wight Swimming Club since its inception over 25 years ago.

She was named ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Sports Unsung Hero after working with thousands of people with learning difficulties throughout North Shropshire, including putting on Special Olympics in the area since 1978.

In 2007 Margaret Simons picked up the award for her work with the Bicester football club, which she founded in 1964.
After picking up her award Margaret provided a memorable moment telling the audience in Birmingham that she fancied taking over as England boss one day!

Last December veteran boxing coach and was announced as our Sports Unsung Hero. The 70 year-old set up Dorchester Amateur Boxing Club in 2003, and is involved in coaching and raising funds for the club and charity events.

Everyone in sport knows someone like a Trevor, Val, Margaret or a Ben, someone who is helping sports organisations or teams in their community.

We'd love to hear about them, so do nominate someone and perhaps they can be in Sheffield to be given the accolade of ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Sports Unsung Hero 2009. In the meantime, please share your Unsung Hero stories with us below.