Salford Scorpions named as this year’s Springboard Hero in Salford community awards

Flag football team, The Salford Scorpions, have been awarded £1,000 by Salford-based housing association, Salix Homes, as part of its annual Springboard Heroes awards following a month-long public vote.

The Salford Scorpions were one of four finalists of the annual awards, which aims to support local groups and projects in Salford with a monetary donation. The finalists were selected from the range of projects who had successfully secured funding from Salix Homes’ Springboard community fund programme over the previous 12 months.

DaveMyring, the mind behind the Scorpions team also works as a teacher atOrdsall’sPrimrose Hill Primary School. As a fan of American football, he set up the teamalmost two yearsago to help introduce local people to the sport he loves.

Flag football is a non-contact and fast-growing version of American football. Instead of tackling their opponent, the defensive team must instead remove a flag from the belt of the ball carrier.  

Dave said:“We’re thrilled to have won this prize and would like to thank each person that voted for us.

“It will go a long way to helping us set up more teams and fulfil our aim of starting a cadet team for children aged eight years and over. We hope to also be able to set up a women’s team in the future. This funding means we won’t have to charge any costs for new players and all would be welcome to join.

“We can’t wait for next year to take partin competitions and make Salford proud.”

Sue Sutton, executive director of operations at Salix Homes, said: “The Springboard Heroes is our way of honouring some of the fantastic work that ordinary people in Salford are doing day in, day out as part of Love Your Neighbourhood Week; and it’s projects like these that make our communities so special.

“We’d like to say a huge congratulations to The Salford Scorpions who are very worthy winners of this year’s award. We had a record-breaking 1,200 votes cast this year, and while there can only be one winner, we’re proud to support them all.”

Each of the runners-up, which includes The Lowry Centre Trust, Up ere productions and The Veterans will each receive £100.

The announcement of the Springboard Heroes winner comes at the end of Salix Homes’ annual Love Your Neighbourhood Week.

The week, which aims to get the people of Salford to come together, and take ownership for where they live, was ran digitally this year due to COVID-19 pandemic and included online live cooking demonstration, garden competitions and online activities for all of the family.

Sue Sutton, continued: “Although in a digital format this year, Love Your Neighbourhood Week has proved to be a great success once again.

“Thanks to Love Your Neighbourhood Week, we can really see the pride in our communities and that true spirit of Salford. We hope this will make a lasting benefit to our neighbourhoods.”