Sport

ECHO ARENA TO HOST SPORT AWARDS

By Richard Smith ⋅ February 4, 2008 ⋅  Print this post ⋅ Post a comment

SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR SET TO BE CROWNED

On February 4th the Liverpool Echo Merseyside Sports Personality of the Year Award comes to the Kings Dock at the lavish new Echo Arena. Boasting a 36 year history, the award has grown throughout its years, becoming one of the most desirable accolades for Merseyside sportspeople.

To mark the city’s status as European capital of culture for 2008 the plans for the ceremony are grander than ever with Sky Sports TV’s popular presenter Jeff Stelling being drafted in to host the event.

Speaking to LX News, John Thompson, sports editor of the Liverpool Echo, is relishing the occasion: “Now in its 36th year, the event has grown rapidly in recent years. We hope this rise will be symbolised by this year being the biggest and best event to date.”

Certainly this year’s event will be take place in its grandest setting so far, thanks to the launch of the Echo Arena. ‘I feel the launch has gone extremely well and it provides facilities the city has wanted, and needed, for a considerable amount of time,” says Thompson. “I feel that the stadium symbolises an iconic representation of Liverpool’s re-emergence as a new city within the frame of the European Capital of Culture.”

Many of these views have been echoed around the city as the people of Liverpool flock to events at the new arena with concerts as late as April already being completely sold out.

As the acclaim of the Merseyside Sports Personality of the Year Award continues to rise there is a bigger opportunity than ever for individuals to gain recognition.
Merseyside’s Athlete of the Year Award, new to the format this year, joins other prestigious awards on the evening’s itinerary, including the Dixie Dean Memorial Award and the much coveted ‘Supporters Who Go The Extra Mile’ award. The Dixie Dean Award in particular stands out for many of the people on Merseyside as it rewards those who display the great Dixie Dean’s attributes, including sportsmanship, discipline and his inspirational qualities. Last year’s winner, Joe Royle, certainly possesses many of the qualities as the fondly remembered Dean, who still holds, and will almost certainly always hold, the staggering record of scoring 60 goals in a single league season.

For this year’s award there are many prospective winners of the grand prize. Last year’s winner, Beth Tweddle, must surely be in with a good chance of coming close again. Tweddle is the most decorated British gymnast of all time, a current European, and former world champion on the uneven bars. Although 2007 saw her fail to retain her World Champion status, her contribution to the field of British gymnastics remains as important as ever coming into an Olympic year.

Another Merseyside sports star that deserves special mention has to be golfer Nick Dougherty. Coming off his most successful year to date, Dougherty has turned heads all through the golfing world. His performance at the Dunhill Links Championship in early October, a tournament where he defeated the likes of Ernie Els, Justin Rose and Padraig Harrington, earned him the accolade of European Tour Golfer of the month, a very prestigious honour. Dougherty has proven himself amongst the very best throughout 2007 and must be in with a shout when the Merseyside Sports Personality of the Year Award is announced.

Whomever may win the grand prize, the night of February 4th should be one of the early highlights of the sporting year on Merseyside. The event will be a star studded affair and, if all goes to plan, will surely be a night to remember for a long time.