Plenty of Mid Sussex interestin Sussex Sports Awards

Burgess Hill-based Peter Hickman is shortlisted for the Sussex County FA Volunteer of the Year award for his 35-year service to ladies football.

He started Hassocks Ladies in 1978 when his daughter was playing and the club evolved over the years into what was to become Haywards Heath LFC.

At a conservative estimate of an average 30 women playing per season, that is the potential for more than 1,000 to have been offered the opportunity to play for the club in its lifetime.

Also up for an award are Hurstpierpoint-based Pink Flamingos Reserves. They went through the whole of last season unbeaten, dropping just four points.

But the real note of distinction is that during the season they did not pick up a single card, either yellow or red.

They are shortlisted for the Team of the Year award.

It is a good time for Pink Flamingos as before the Sussex Sports Awards they have been shortlisted in the Sporting Excellence category at the Bright Awards at East Sussex Golf Club today week (Thursday November 14).

Chairman Ed Bartram is delighted and would be pleased to hear from any local companies interested in supporting the club after they lost their main sponsors when the director of the company fell ill.

Meanwhile, the 11th annual Sussex Sports Awards, hosted by Active Sussex, will once again be compered by BBC Sussex’s Danny Pike. This year he will be joined by Olympic badminton silver medallist Gail Emms MBE, who will provide inspirational tales of her journey to sporting success.

A panel of sports professionals from national, regional and community levels will judge 13 different awards.

Contact details for Ed Bartram are [email protected]