By VIVIENNE NICOLL

THE hunt is on to find Glasgow's new sporting heroes.

Nominations for the Glasgow Life Sports Person of the Year Awards 2017 opened today and the public will have until Friday November 10 to vote for the man or woman they think deserves recognition.

The winners will be announced at a glittering awards ceremony in February next year.

There are a wide range of categories which recognise the outstanding sporting achievements of individuals and teams in the city.

All those who have excelled in the field of sporting endeavour in 2017 will be represented from grass-roots to those reaching the pinnacle of their career.

The awards also recognise the vital contribution made by the many sporting associations, organisations and bodies in creating opportunities for all to enjoy and benefit from sport.

The categories include Evening Times Disabled Athlete of the Year, the Lifetime Achievement Award for services to sport in Glasgow, the Evening Times Glasgow Young Sportsperson of the Year Award and the Glasgow Student Athlete of the Year Award.

Other categories are Evening Times Glasgow Volunteer of the Year Award, Glasgow Coach of the Year (26+), Club of the Year, Primary School of the Year, Secondary School of the Year, Team of the Year, Evening Times Glasgow Young Volunteer of the Year Award for people aged between 12 and 25 and the main prize of Sports Person of the Year.

Glasgow Life chairman David McDonald said: "Glasgow Life's Sports Person of the Year Awards is one of the highlights of the city's sporting calendar.

"The awards mark the vital contribution made within sport by the many sporting associations, organisations and bodies across the city - from grassroots to elite level.

"From our volunteers, schools and coaches who will pick up trophies on the night, these awards are a brilliant celebration of the best sporting talent in the country and give us the opportunity to recognise the incredible efforts made by athletes across the country."

One of the winners last year was Andy Elliot who picked up the Evening Times Volunteer of the Year Award.

The GHA housing officer has been a volunteer at Pollok United Soccer Academy since 2011 and over the years has seen the number of young people attending soar from 30 to more than 400 and the number of volunteers reach around 80.

Andy said winning the Evening Times award was a great honour and paid tribute to all the people he works alongside.

He said: "There are many people at the academy who put in lots of time and effort so the award was recognition for the whole academy and the work everyone does."