TODAY is the last chance to nominate the city’s unsung heroes for the 2017 Active York Sports Awards.

Nominations close today for the awards, which are organised by Active York, the city’s sport and active leisure partnership which is working to encourage people to be more active more often.

There are 15 categories in this year’s awards which include: Active Primary School (new this year), Active Secondary School (new), Active in York, Coach of the Year, Disabled Sportsperson of the Year, Outstanding Achievement, Sportsman of the Year and Sportswoman of the Year.

The other categories are Student Sportsperson of the Year, Team/Club of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Young Disabled Sportsperson of the Year, Young Female Sportswoman of the Year, Young Male Sportsman of the Year and Youth Group Provider of the Year (new).

Paula Stainton, Active York chair, said: “We are delighted to be running the Active York Sports Awards 2017.

“Back for another year, the awards have become an annual fixture in York’s sporting calendar.

“They are a great opportunity to celebrate the sporting talents, facilities and community our city has to offer.”

The shortlisted nominees will be announced on February 24 and the leading nominees in each category will be invited to attend the Active York Sports Awards ceremony at the University of York’s Roger Kirk Centre on Thursday, March 30.

To be eligible for nomination for any Active York Sport Award you must live, attend school or train within City of York Council’s boundaries.

There is a period of qualification, a minimum of a nine-month period running between February 2016 to February 2017.

The awards will be judged by members of the Active York board, which includes sporting partners from across the city, as well as Stuart Martel, deputy editor of The Press.

The Active York Sports Awards dinner will be used to celebrate and raise the profile of the Fund for the Gifted programme, which provides grants for young sportspeople to put towards equipment and training.

There will be opportunities for corporate diners to donate, while a raffle and auction will bring new funds to the programme.

Nomination forms and awards criteria are now available at www.activeyork.co.uk