After last year's successful debut, the awards, which recognise the region's accomplishments, both on and off the pitch, has already secured the support of headline sponsor, Bank of America as well as Grant Thornton, The Football Foundation and Footie Chick.

The north west is renowned for being a hotbed of footballing activity, being home to the PFA, The Football League, The National Football Museum and 23 professional football clubs.

In addition, activity off the pitch is just as impressive, with disproportionately large numbers of professional advisers, football agents and commercial organisations all of whom the awards recognise.

Last year, loyal fans voted in their tens of thousands for the north west's top players categories, while an esteemed panel of judges selected the corporate teams who had made the biggest impact behind the scenes.

This prestigious panel of sporting experts, including Gordon Taylor, Maurice Watkins and Paul Thorogood, will assemble once again to pick the cream of the footballing crop.

There will, for the second time, be a Manager of the Year Award and a Lifetime Achievement Award, last year presented to two of the region's best loved footballing heroes, Sir Alex Ferguson and Sir Bobby Charlton respectively.

Gordon Taylor, judge and spokesperson for the Northwest Football Awards, commented: "The awards give all north west clubs, from the Premier League to the Conference League, the opportunity to compete on a level playing field, regardless of financial status and performance on the pitch.

"The awards are going to be bigger and better than ever this year, with more categories to celebrate the fantastic talent we have in the region."

The awards dinner, which will raise funds for The New Children's Hospital Appeal, will be held on Monday, November 17th at the Midland Hotel, Manchester.

This year's categories are:

- Goal of the Year

- Community Scheme of the Year

- Community Scheme - Project of the Year

- Best Club Marketing Campaign

- Best Club Sponsorship

- Most Innovative Non Match-day use of a Football Ground

- Northwest Business Services to Football

- Northwest Professional Business Services to Football

- Player of the Year - Premier League

- Player of the Year - Championship

- Player of the Year - League One

- Player of the Year - League Two

- Player of the Year - Conference

- Northwest Female Footballer of the Year

- Northwest Footballer of the Year

- Northwest Manager of the Year

- Lifetime Contribution to Northwest Football

For more information on how to enter the Awards, please visit www.northwestfootballawards.co.uk