This year’s Mansfield Sports Recognition Awards are being held at the Civic Centre on Monday, 7th December.

Now nominations are wanted to celebrate the area’s next stars, who hope to follow in the footsteps of local sports heroes and previous winners, including Rebecca Adlington, Ollie Hynd, Sam Hynd, Charlotte Henshaw, Ben and Tom Birchall, and Elliot Clogg.

The event is organised by the Armchair Club, which was founded in 1982 by local businessmen to raise and distribute financial support to the benefit of local sports people.

Leisure Solutions Community Trust and the News Journal also support the awards.

A spokesperson for the organisers said: “Do you know a person, a team or a club deserving recognition for their sporting achievements in the past 12 months?

“If you are involved in sport in any way perhaps you are aware of an individual or a team or a club that ought to be considered?”

The deadline for nominations is 5pm on Friday, 2nd November.

The awards are intended to recognise and celebrate outstanding achievements by individual sports people, coaches, volunteers, teams, and clubs from the community between 1st October 2025 and 30th September 2026. Nominations are invited for 11 categories:

Junior team of the year
Junior sportsperson of the year
Junior sports leader of the year
Junior disabled sportsperson of the year
Club of the year
Disabled sportsperson of the year
Sportsperson of the year
Coach of the year
Team of the year
Volunteer of the year (this also includes referees, officials, administrators etc)
Special Olympics (recognising those who participate in this category)

Further information and a nomination form to download are at Nominate for the Sports Recognition Awards – The Armchair Club or call the Armchair Club on 07873 026009.

Nominations are only accepted by e-mail with a scanned or photographed application form. They must include a photograph of the nominee, and preferably a 30/45 second video of the nominee in sporting action. Postal applications are not being accepted.

Nominees must either live (or have lived) or pursue their sport within the district of Mansfield.

The awards have become an important occasion in Mansfield’s sporting calendar, bringing together around 300 young sportspeople, their families, coaches, clubs, and supporters to celebrate sporting achievement, dedication and success across our community.

This year’s ceremony will again feature theatre-style seating, a large-screen display, and a professionally presented programme, making it a memorable occasion for everyone involved.