Ade Howells, who is a club administrator with Seven Sisters and competition secretary of the National Women’s and Girls Leagues, has been nominated for services to the women’s game in Wales in the Volunteer of the Year category.
“My role is to make sure there is a structure in place for the women’s game to flourish, from managing fixtures to tables and results after the weekend’s matches,” said Mr Howells.
“I’ve been involved with Seven Sisters for over 9 years as a player and managing the junior section and when this role came up with the women’s game I saw a way I could help.
“My wife and my sister both play the game and it’s a role that I really enjoy.”
Gwilym Lewis from Llanelli Warriors rugby club has been nominated in the Coach to Disabled People of the Year category.
“Our remit is to actively include players with learning difficulties in the national game,” said Mr Lewis.
“The concept is as much about social integration as rugby and so we have players with and without disabilities and play against ‘mainstream’ sides.
“The club was formed in 1995 and has since played over 250 fixtures, we have a squad of approximately 50 players of whom about half have a learning disability.
“Our greatest achievement to date was a three match unbeaten tour of New Zealand in 2005.”
Sport Wales and BBC Cymru Wales have unveiled a short-list of local heroes of grassroots sport in Wales for 2015.
After searching the length and breadth of Wales, the finalists have been picked out by an expert panel of judges.
These are the people often in the background but help ensure that community sport in Wales is thriving.
The finalists will come together on December 7 at the Sport Wales National Centre in Cardiff to recognise the very best of elite and grassroots sport in Wales.
The Wales Sport Awards is a partnership between Sport Wales and BBC Wales to create the country’s biggest annual sporting celebration.
The community coaching and volunteering finalists:
Volunteer of the Year
Ade Howells – Rugby, Neath Port Talbot
Jan Davies – Gymnastics, Wrexham
Wendy Pressdee – Netball, Swansea
Community Coach of the Year
Nikki Upton – Hockey, Caerphilly
Samantha O’Callaghan – Netball, Blaenau Gwent
Angeline Tshiyane – Multi-Sport, Newport
Young Coach of the Year
Jordan Rosser – Golf, Rhondda Cynon Taf
Greg Price – Table Tennis, Blaenau Gwent
Lowri Haf Barker – Netball, Flintshire
Young Volunteer of the Year
Robert Cunnah – Denbighshire, Multi-Sport
Jonathan Williams – Merthyr, Multi-Sport
Elan Mon Gilford – Anglesey, Multi-Sport
Coach to Disabled People of the Year
Caroline Matthews – Cardiff, Wheelchair Basketball
John Wilson – Swansea, Visually Impaired Bowls
Gwilym Lewis – Carmarthenshire, Rugby
Professor Laura McAllister, Chair of Sport Wales commented:
“At a time when sport is being embraced by our nation like never before, these are the individuals who are the very heartbeat of what is being achieved.
“Community sport needs enjoyable experiences and opportunities to inspire more people to take part. These are the coaches and volunteers who are leading the way in getting more people in Wales hooked on sport.
“Choosing the finalists was such a difficult task but reading their stories goes to prove that they deserve their time in the spotlight.”
Head of Sport at BBC Cymru Wales, Geoff Williams said:
“Each finalist has a hugely inspirational story to share. Nurturing the next generation of sporting talent, as well as providing support for those who enjoy sport as part of their daily lives, is key to maintaining Wales’ status as a world class sporting nation.”
“Once again, the Wales Sport Awards is a moment when both elite and grassroots athletes from a wide range of disciplines can come together to celebrate their success.”
For more information visit www.walessportawards.org.uk or to volunteer with Welsh rugby go to www.wru.co.uk/joinus
