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A regional judging panel, made up of a cross-section of BBC Northern Ireland sports staff and other local sports experts, will decide the winner of the BBC Northern Ireland Sports Unsung Hero 2009.

All 15 BBC regional winners will then be invited to this years BBC Sports Personality of the Year show, broadcast live from the Sheffield Arena on Sunday, 13th December on BBC One, where an overall winner will be announced.

Previous overall winners

Margaret Simons was the 2007 winner. She has run Bardwell Football Club in Oxfordshire since founding it in 1964.

Ben Geyser is the driving force behind Dorchester Boxing Club. He won the award in 2008.

Frank Gervin - Clonoe Boxing Club

Last year's BBC Northern Ireland winner, Frank is the main inspiration behind the club for 37 years - he even stood in front of a bulldozer when club threatened with demolition.

The Clonoe club has churned out hundreds of young boxers over three decades and Frank also organised the visit of Amir Khan.

Both he and his wife have also fostered something like 90 children.

You can find out more about Frank's work in the following video:

How to make a nomination

If you know someone who deserves to be a Sports Unsung Hero, please complete the following form (in PDF or Word format):

Send the completed form before the closing date of Friday, 30th October 2009 to:

Mark Sidebottom,
Sports Unsung Hero 2009,
BBC Northern Ireland,
4th Floor,
Broadcasting House,
Ormeau Avenue,
Belfast,
BT2 8HQ.

Or e-mail your nomination form to mark.sidebottom@bbc.co.uk.

To enter, you must ensure all the sections are filled in. Any nomination that doesn't include details of the nominee cannot be accepted.

Your nominee must be informed and have agreed to being entered, nominees may be asked to appear on BBC TV and/or radio.

The judges' decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into regarding their decision.

The competition complies with the BBC's new Code of Conduct on Competitions and Voting which is published on the BBC's website.

For full Terms and Conditions, click on the link at the top right of this page.