Davis backs Sheffield for SPOTY

Sports Personality of the Year
Venue: Sheffield Arena Date: Sunday, 13 December Time: 1900 GMT Coverage: Live on BBC One, BBC Radio 5 Live & BBC Sport website.

Snooker legend Steve Davis believes Sheffield will prove an inspired choice for the 2009 BBC Sports Personality of the Year (SPOTY) event.

Davis has strong associations with the city having won six World Championships at its Crucible Theatre.

And his domination of snooker helped Davis win the SPOTY award in 1988.

"It's marvellous that the BBC has taken it round the country and opened it to the public and what better place than Sheffield," Davis told BBC Sport.

The 51-year-old admitted the passionate South Yorkshire crowd made his six wins extra special.

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" A number of the UK's top cities were very interested in staging the event but Sheffield was the worthy choice for 2009 "

"The people of Sheffield have continued to support snooker over the years," said Davis. "From a snooker perspective the people have always looked after us. There is a buzz round the Crucible and you get respect and that has always been quite nice."

Davis has finished in the SPOTY top three on five occasions during the 1980s - an unrivalled record - but was unable to pick up his trophy in 1988 because he was playing a tournament in Milan.

"To be in the frame so many times for SPOTY is quite funny as it went hand-in-hand with my 'Spitting Image' boring puppet," quipped Davis.

Davis' snooker and television colleague John Parrott also backed Sheffield to host a successful SPOTY event.

"When Sheffield does something, it does the job properly," said Everton fan Parrot, who promised to vote for Toffees manager David Moyes.

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