A disco dancer from Oswaldtwistle has been nominated as the Rising Star of 2011 in the glittering Lancashire Sports Awards.

Lauren Davidson recently performed at the World Championships at the Tower Ballroom in Blackpool.

She was also the winner of the Youth Championship Final held in Castleford earlier in the year.

Davidson has worked her way up from the beginner events in dance competitions to championship level.

She is now doing a Professional Dance Teacher's course at college and has been training at Danceworks school in Clitheroe for the last four years.

Danceworks principal Nigel Kirk praised her dedication. "She has grown in confidence with every aspect of her dancing," he said. "We are extremely proud of the fact she has gained a place at college to study her passion."

Lauren will get to know if she has achieved the top prize in a ceremony at Blackpool’s Hilton Hotel on November 25.

Accrington Girls and Ladies FC hope to be crowned the best Community Club at the awards.

The club has been nominated for its commitment to women’s football in the build-up to the 2012 Olympics.

Several of the Under 18 squad have become ‘Young Club Ambassadors.’ They are promoted as role models for younger girls to emulate.

Ann Elwood, who has been at the club almost since it formed in 2002, says they encourage all Olympic values.

"It not just competing or winning but embracing life and friendships with people of all backgrounds," she said.

Coaching sessions for girls and women of varying ages and abilities are offered.

The club has been praised throughout the last decade for the way they maintain interest in football from girls who might otherwise fall out of love with the sport.

The club faces stiff competition from Blackburn Community Sports Club, Burnley Cricket Club, Colne Badminton Club and Rossendale Basketball Club who have also been shortlisted in the Community Club of the Year category.

Six men from Accrington have been nominated in the Young Volunteer of the Year category at the Lancashire Awards.

Sohail Asghar, Rohail Asghar, Quasim Munir, Shabir Hussain, Usman Malik and Mohammed Ali Khan were shortlisted for their dedication to sports coaching at the New Era Complex.

Since they joined the ‘positive futures’ programme last year they have completed various football, handball and dodgeball coaching courses.

They use their new-found skills to encourage young people from deprived areas of Hyndburn to get involved in recreational sport.

They act as mentors for younger people in Hyndburn. They are planning to do a referees course with the eventual aim of starting a Midnight Football League in Hyndburn.

Meanwhil Phil Sumner has been nominated as Adult Volunteer of the Year for his work at Hyndburn Athletics Club.

Sumner works unpaid as a coach and club secretary for more than 30 hours every week. He does javelin sessions throughout the week and coaches a class of five-eight-year-olds who are budding athletes.

After a bad injury, Sumner also had personal success this year. He received a ranking on the UK all-time list for javelin.

Sumner's dedication to athletics coaching is even more remarkable considering he has a medical condition affecting his heart which can be worsened by stress.

Long-time football player, referee, secretary and general all-rounder Stephen Lee is in contention for the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Stephen has already picked up one award this year – an award from the Football Association for 50 years’ service to the game.

Stephen’s father Tom founded the Accrington and District Junior Football League in 1958 to cater for boys who did not play football for their school teams.

Stephen has been involved in this league for 53 years and, along with Ian Birtwell and John Cullen, helped to found Huncoat United JFC.

The club currently has nine teams, ranging from Under eights to Under 16s and has a mini league for Under sevens with the emphasis on football played in a fun and safe environment.

Stephen has held various roles – he is a Lancashire Football Association referee and has officiated more than 5,000 games.

He has also been involved with Hyndburn Borough Council, Whinney Hill FC, Griffins Head FC and more.

He has also run six marathons and various other athletic events, raising thousands of pounds for the Asthma campaign, Stroke Association, Get Kids Gong and more local charities.

In contention for Coach of the Year is Hyndburn’s Sam Heap who coaches at Belthorn United Junior Football Club.

Sam joined the club three years ago and has helped transform its fortunes.

It was at a low ebb when he first arrived but he has helped to take the club to Under 16 level and there are 17 registered players now who regularly attend training sessions. He has boosted the team spirit and gets the best out of the players.

Sam, who played for Belthorn in his teens, has his FA¿Coaching Level 1 and is awaiting Level 2 and has encouraged another coach, David Holt, to take his coaching badges.

Sam has also helped give the club stability so the players who come in are staying.