Google the words "sports volunteer" and you'll come up with an award or three for just about every local authority in Great Britain.

"Unsung hero" will also do the trick.

But there are fewer and fewer of a stalwart band willing to give time (and often money) to their club or sport for nothing much in return.

Yet somehow clubs and sports appear to survive, even if Thames Valley Harriers are willing to pay someone to organise their BAL men's team for the first time in the Shepherd's Bush club's history (see below).

The dearth of the volunteer shouldn't be the greatest surprise.

It usually entails the hardy having to pass a litany of health, safety and personal checks before they can work with young sportspersons. Even the reward of watching the same people flourish in their chosen activity can be tempered by the attitudes of thick parents.

The mouthful of abuse levelled on cup final day by one such person at secretary Lesley Thomas only underlines the point.

Thomas's work for the Lillie Road Five-a-Side junior football league in Fulham deserves a mention here, especially after trying to calm the said parent down whose four-letter tirade had something to do with his son not being picked.

Thomas, Mickey Delaney at Dale Youth Boxing Club, Isola Akay at All-Stars Boxing Club, the Martin brothers down the road at Stowe, all come readily to mind as needing a new suit to get a BEM from Her Maj.

If there's someone in west London you think should also get a mention - let us know. In 2008 they deserve more praise than at any other time in the history of sports volunteers.