A RISCA football club stalwart is in with a chance of winning a nationwide volunteer award after an association spanning nearly half a century.

Grassroots volunteer Stuart Luckwell, from Risca, is up for a national award in the 2014 Welsh Community Football Awards, following success as a regional winner in Gwent.

Mr Luckwell has been involved with Risca United for nearly 50 years, having joined his beloved club as a midfield player in 1965. He has since gone on to take every type of role at the club – from player to chairman to groundsman to club secretary. Islwyn MP Chris Evans is among those to have given his support to the highly-regarded clubman.

For the third year running, the six regional winners from across Wales in the Volunteer of the Year category will be entered into The People’s Award - a special award for an extraordinary grassroots football hero that gives the public the chance to vote and decide who they believe should be crowned the national winner. The successful nominee will then be announced at a ceremony on Monday, October 13, at Cardiff City Stadium ahead of the Wales' Euro 2016 qualifier against Cyprus.

Voting for The People’s Award is now open and runs until midnight on Wednesday, September 17. Visit welshfootballtrust.org.uk/PeoplesAwards to cast your vote.