Greater Manchester’s football community will congregate once more in November for the 2013 North West Football Awards (NWFA) with organisers promising the ceremony to be better than ever.
With both Manchester clubs finishing first and second in last season’s Premier League and Wigan Athletic winning the FA Cup, Greater Manchester’s football scene is in rude health.
And Laura Wolfe, NWFA’s managing director, feels the North West’s footballing landscape and the awards ceremony are a vibrant expression of the game.
“I am a local girl and football has been part of my life as long as I can remember,” she said at the events National Football Museum launch.
“I represent what the North West Football Awards is all about – great people from great clubs and businesses coming together to honour our own heroes.
“A few years ago, I was lucky enough to be part of the team that started the North West Football Awards.
“Our goal is to become an example for the rest of the country to follow and to honour the hard work in running a football club across all leagues, both on and off the pitch.”
The awards have been running for six years and recognise North West clubs up and down the football pyramid from a playing, commercial, business and foundation perspective.
This year’s event – taking place at the Point, Lancashire County Cricket Club, November 4, and hosted by Dan Walker – will be broadcast live on radio and streamed on Twitter.
More than 800,000 listeners across three BBC local radio stations –Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside – are expected to tune in.
Andy Pearce, head of creative programs and exhibitions at the National Football Museum, was pleased to partner the NWFA for this year’s venture.
“We deal with the story of English football through the best mode in the world,” he said. “Here at the museum we are committed to celebrating the greats of the game.”
The event was hosted by Ian Cheeseman, BBC Radio Manchester commentator and self-confessed City fan, was in no doubt about what the best region for football is.
“Don’t we just have the best jobs, to work in football? United finished first and City finished second. It is all about the North West and not about down in London!” he said.
“Most of all though, enjoy your North West Football Awards 2013.”
Categories up for nomination include Community Club of the Year, North West Football Journalist of the Year and the Fabrice Muamba Award for Medical & Sports Science Professional.
A judging panel and the public will decide Players of the Year for the Premier League, Championship, Leagues One and Two, the Conference and Rising Star award.
Manager of the Year, Goal of the Year and Lifetime Contribution to Northwest Football Award will be decided by a separate panel of experts.
To vote visit http://northwestfootballawards.com/voting2013.
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