Williams joins unsung hero hunt

Shane Williams' own unsung hero is Roy Evans (left)

Shane Williams has joined the campaign to urge everyone to nominate their BBC Sports Unsung Hero 2008 in Wales.

The award is to honour individuals from the world of grassroots sport.

The inspirational Wales and Ospreys winger joined his own unsung hero, the Ospreys 'kit man' Roy Evans, to launch the award at the Liberty Stadium.

"The Unsung Hero awards are a great idea, there are so many people behind the scenes in the sporting world that work so hard," said Williams.

"They ensure everything runs to plan, but unfortunately they don't get the recognition they deserve.

"Roy was our kit man during my time at Neath and of course now at the Ospreys.

"He works long hours and travels everywhere with the team ensuring the boys want for nothing.

"He's really hard working and although everyone here at the Ospreys appreciates him, the public may not realise how much hard work goes on behind the scenes to ensure the success of the team."

Robinsons is supporting the BBC Sports Unsung Hero Award and is offering bursaries of up to £2,500 to the winners of each regional award to help them with their work in sport.

The closing date is 31 October, so if you know someone in your area who goes that extra mile to change the lives of others through sport and deserves recognition, the BBC wants to hear from you.

You can nominate people who, on a voluntary basis, prepare facilities, roll the pitch, coach the juniors, run local sports leagues or work behind the scenes so that sport can be played and enjoyed throughout the UK.

A shortlist of regional nominees in each BBC region and in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, will be drawn up by the local BBC panel of judges, and a winner picked by a judging panel.

Nominations for the BBC Sports Unsung Hero Award can be made via the link on the top right of this page until Friday October 31.

The winner of the BBC Wales Sports Personality Unsung Hero award will be announced during BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year 2008, staged for the first time at the Swalec Stadium, Cardiff, on BBC Two Wales on the evening of Sunday, 7 December.

The 15 regional winners will be joining the glittering BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award ceremony at Liverpool's Echo Arena, on Sunday, 14 December, where an overall UK winner will be chosen.

The ceremony will be broadcast live on BBC One. Final programme, ticket and voting details will be announced nearer the time.

Last year's Unsung Hero winner from Wales was Andrew Grey, the founder of the Milford Haven Gymnastics Club.

From humble beginnings 28 years ago, it has now developed into a club with around 150 members.

Andrew began the club for fun and to give something back to the community.

The club now runs on four evenings per week for at least three hours per session and many more weekends are taken up by competitions and training.

Andrew is also involved in the Pembrokeshire Under-11s rugby team and top players such as Jonathan Thomas of Ospreys and Wales, benefited from his training in their younger days.