Former Stags skipper short-listed for award

The 29-year-old Derby County defender will vie with Derbyshire County Cricket Club seamer Mark Footitt for the title of Morley Hayes Golf Club Professional Sportsperson of the Year on the awards night at The Roundhouse in Derby on Thursday, 6th November.

Buxton is the Rams’ longest-serving player and helped lead the club to the cusp of Premier League football last season after a series of influential displays.

The former Ashfield School student deputised as captain for a spell and was named as the Supporters’ Club and Club Player of the Year, which earned him a new three-year contract.

Another to be shortlisted in the University of Derby Disabled Sportsperson of the year category is Portland College student Max Foord.

The 18-year-old, from Swanwick, has overcome adversity to been named in the final two after an inspired season in his sport of powerflifting.

Max set a new Teen 75kg Raw Bench Press powerlifting world record and was also crowned World, European and British champion in the same category.

The University of Derby is the title sponsor of the invite-only Derbyshire Sports Awards and is also backing the top award of the night, the Sportsperson of the Year Award, for which Commonweath Games medallists Adam Peaty, Liam Pitchford, Caroline Povey and Will Sharman have all been shortlisted.

University Vice-Chancellor Professor John Coyne, said: “It’s been another year of sporting excellence across Derbyshire and it’s great to see these Awards honour in unison inspirational athletes, coaches, volunteers, clubs and organisations from grass roots through to elite level.”

Event organisers Derbyshire Sport resurrected the awards in 2006 in recognition of the importance of paying tribute to the wealth of sporting talent in the county.

District awards ceremonies have been held across the county, with winners from each district going forward to be considered for the Derbyshire Sports Awards.

Cllr Paul Smith, Chair of Derbyshire Sport, said: “There’s been some superb success stories across the county that have come to light during the 2014 Derbyshire Sports Awards process, and every nominee who has made the final shortlist has done fantastically well.”