A MAN who set up Cerebral Palsy United in Partington after a life-changing accident, has been awarded BBC Unsung Hero for the North West of England.

In 2005, 32-year-old, Sean Bailey suffered a broken and dislocated neck after an impact injury during a tackle in football which left him completely paralysed and facing the rest of his life in a wheelchair.

Despite being told he would never walk again, Sean made a miraculous recovery and within nine months he was out of a wheelchair and fighting to regain fitness.

He said: "It was a huge achievement when I managed to get up and walked out of the hospital. Football is all I've known, and I knew that I could never play football again so coaching was the next best thing - I felt like I needed to give something back."

In 2008, Sean started to volunteer for disabled football at Manchester United and within six months he was asked to help out with the cerebral palsy football club, but after the Football Association cut the funding, Sean knew he had to do something.

Three years ago, he decided to start Cerebral Palsy United FC at Partington Sports Village. His aim was to set up a club that could cater for anyone regardless of their age, ability, disability or sex. The club now has more than 100 players ranging from age three to 33 and come from as far as Penrith and Nottingham. The club has seen people come in from entry level to Paralympians and players with England caps - something that no other club can boast.

Every year the BBC celebrates the work of volunteers who run sport or leisure clubs through the Unsung Hero Awards - part of BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

On November 18, Sean won this award for the North West and has been put up for the national award where the winner will be revealed on December 17.