MINEHEAD Cricket Club stalwart Stuart Tudball has been named as the BBC West Region's Unsung Sporting Hero for 2010.

And on Wednesday evening, the man who has devoted much of his time to developing youth cricket in the area travelled to Bristol to receive his award live on the BBC's Points West programme from sports editor David Passmore.

In 2003, Stuart was behind the setting up of the West Somerset Cricket Academy, helped by sponsorship from Beaver Ford in Minehead, which has produced many young cricketers now playing for local clubs.

Five years ago he became the area co-ordinator for the Chance to Shine Initiative, which has introduced cricket to hundreds of schoolchildren across West Somerset and led to it being played competitively in schools again.

It was specifically for his dedication to the development of youth cricket that Stuart has won the Unsung Sporting Heroes award, for which he was nominated by Denise Marsh, who has sons aged 10 and 12 who play cricket for Minehead.

"I think that it is just fantastic the amount of time and effort that Stuart puts into developing youth cricket across West Somerset and both my boys are coached by him," she said.

"The thing is with Stuart is that he is always around and always going that extra mile and giving that extra little bit to help the youngsters and to develop cricket for them in the area.

"When I heard about this award, I spoke to the other parents and everybody agreed that we should put Stuart's name forward because he thoroughly deserves the recognition for all that he does."

Stuart, married to Joanne with three children and who has run his own upholstery business in Monday's Quirke Street for the last 17 years, said: "To be honest I'm a bit embarrassed but I am very proud, not just for myself but also for the whole of West Somerset, to have won such an award. I must admit that it came as a bit of a surprise to me.

"It all started 37 years ago when I first played for Minehead. Since then I suppose, when I stop and think about it,  I have done so many things for cricket not just at the club but across the whole area.

"I have been captain, cricket manager, raised funds, got grants, set up the academy and become co-ordinator for Chance to Shine, which has been such a huge success and got so many youngsters playing the game."  

David Passmore, who was one of the judges, said: "It's staggering the amount of time he devotes to taking coaching sessions, organising others, setting up matches and tournaments and often ending up as umpire.

"He also is a master fundraiser and highly successful at attracting grants. All this is in a remote part of West Somerset where if not for his efforts children would have to travel many miles for any sort of coaching at all."

Back home on Thursday morning, Stuart said: "I must admit that I felt a bit nervous about going on television and it all felt a bit unreal, but looking back on it I must admit that it was a great experience and one that I will never forget.

"I felt very touched by some of the comments that the young cricketers made."

Stuart was born in Minehead in 1958 and attended Dunster Primary School before moving onto Minehead Lower and then the Upper School. His dad was interested in sport and he started to play cricket at an early age.

"I played my first games for Minehead Seconds when I was about 15, when they were short, and have been involved with the club ever since."

A top order batsman, he captained the first team for ten years and led the side to the Somerset Premier League title in 1986, scoring over 500 runs during the season.

He spent several winters when he was younger playing cricket and coaching in South Africa and New Zealand, and he played representative cricket for the Somerset Cricket Association and the Somerset Cricket League.

During his entire playing career with Minehead, the 52-year-old has scored well over 10,000 runs.

Stuart now goes forward with 14 other regional winners to the national final, where the overall award will be presented live at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year show on December 19.