THEY are one of the unsung heroes of local football - club stalwarts, who spend hours in all weathers preparing pitches.They deserve to be rewarded and the race is on to see who will follow Stanton and win the Suffolk area Football Association groundsman of the year award.

Elvin King

THEY are one of the unsung heroes of local football - club stalwarts, who spend hours in all weathers preparing pitches.

They deserve to be rewarded and the race is on to see who will follow Stanton and win the Suffolk area Football Association groundsman of the year award.

This is the ninth year the competition has been run and the award was set up to recognise unsung heroes and to encourage improved standards.

This year Suffolk FA will be judging clubs below Ridgeons League level on Saturdays plus all Sunday clubs, and the groundsman must be a member of the club.

Judges will look at the quality of the pitch, and also take into consideration a groundsman's knowledge, resources, how often the pitch is used and whether full or part time.

Nomination forms can be found on the Suffolk FA website and completed forms must be returned by Tuesday, January 4.

The Suffolk winner will go through to the national awards where independent judging will take place in March. All county winners are invited to a national ceremony in the summer when the winners will be announced.