Sky Sports.com

As we near the end of another football season so we get to see who proves themselves to be a hero.

To hold their nerve when things get tight. To produce a moment of genius that can change the fortunes of a team and turn a good season into a truly memorable one.

We've asked the great and good at Sky Sports to tell us who their sporting heroes were when they were growing up...

And we want to know who YOUR sporting heroes are as well, so let us know by filling in the feedback form at the bottom of the page...

Tubes - Soccer AM

Gianfranco Zola - He was simply a great player who made football look like art.

David Jones - Sky Sports News

Gary Rowell - Arguably Sunderland's greatest post-war centre forward. He led the line with real class and swagger in the early 80's when my dad first took me to Roker Park. I got his autograph as an eight-year-old and met him again many years later through work - he still had the same aura. A true gentleman, and as I have learned since, great company on a night out!

Marcus Buckland - Tennis

Steve Archibald - The Spurs team of the early to mid 80's was all that mattered to me while growing up. I worshipped Glenn Hoddle and Ossie Ardiles but Steve Archibald's goals and individuality made him my sporting hero. I still sing "we'll take more care of you Archibald" in the shower!

Miles Harrison - Rugby union

Gordon Banks - Gordon Banks - Plus two others! I cried myself to sleep the night that Gordon Banks' career was ended by his accident. I was one of those strange children who always fancied playing in goal in the back garden and Banks was the first sportsman I wanted to be. In cricket, the 1970's were such a difficult time to be a young devotee of the English team and then Ian Botham changed my life. I watched his test debut from the stands at Trent Bridge and was immediately in awe of the man. And, then there was of course, Gareth Edwards - an unbelievable rugby player and, like Botham, a great competitor. I recall acting out his famous score against the All Blacks in 1973 in the playground on the Monday morning and, by the end of the move, forgetting that I was about to dive onto concrete - ouch!

Simon Lazenby - Rugby union

Shane Warne - As a failed leg spinner I understand how difficult the art is. The greatest cricketer ever.

Alex Payne- Rugby union

Steve Bull - As a Wolves fan since the late 80's it has to be Steve Bull. He was an absolute titan for the club and cemented his place as a hero of mine by scoring one of his 306 goals on my first trip to Molineux.

Bob Willis - Cricket

Bjorn Borg - He managed to win on all surfaces and aside from that, he always behaved impeccably.

David Lloyd - Cricket

Duncan Edwards - He was a colossus for Manchester United and his loss was a tragedy. He would have been the greatest footballer ever.

Mike Atherton - Cricket

Tom Watson - I learned a lot from watching him play about how to handle adversity.

Paul Allott - Cricket

Muhammad Ali - My sporting hero, Ali was so much more than a sportsman.

Mike Wedderburn - Sky Sports News

Malcolm Marshall - I don't have heroes but the sportsman I admire the most is Malcolm Marshall, because he was the greatest cricketer there has ever been.

David Jones - Sky Sports News

Gary Rowell - Arguably Sunderland's greatest post-war centre forward. He led the line with real class and swagger in the early 80's when my dad first took me to Roker Park. I got his autograph as an eight-year-old and met him again many years later through work - he still had the same aura. A true gentleman, and as I have learned since, great company on a night out!

Howard Clark - Golf

Billy Bremner - I've always been a Leeds United fan, I lived so close to Elland Road we'd walk there. I'd practice my golf every day at Cobble Hall where the team often trained and Bremner, Les Cocker, Albert Johanesson even Don Revie, would watch us play. None of them ever asked to putt against me - even Bremner.

David Livingstone - Golf

Muhammad Ali -First, he was the best boxer of his time and maybe all time. Secondly, he was the most famous sportsman anywhere in the world. Thirdly, he transcended issues of sport, race, religion, and culture.

Keith Arthur - Fishing

Derek Underwood - He didn't look like an athlete and away from cricket he was the nicest guy and, but at the crease he was devastating and aggressive spin bowler. A fierce competitor.

Glenn McCrory - Boxing

Muhammad Ali - Quite simply the greatest athlete to ever walk on this planet. He had everything: technique, power, style, grace and on top of that, he was one of the most charismatic and entertaining men you could ever meet. An inspirational figure who is a credit to boxing and a credit to sport in general. The man is a true great.

Sid Waddell - Darts

Jackie Milburn - Jackie was from Ashington the same town in Northumberland I grew up in. I've been a passionate Newcastle United fan all my life and 'Wor Jackie' has always been my idol. I once saw him get on a bus with his boots after an eight-hour shift down a mine to go to a trial match and he ended up scoring six goals. I was also lucky enough to play in a charity match with him in Sunderland and 1976. The goals had no nets and Jackie hit the ball so hard he broke a fence behind the goal!

Georgie Thompson - Sky Sports News

Andre Agassi - When he bowed out on the world stage amid such dramatic and moving scenes at the US Open in 2006 tennis lost a great character, gentleman and ambassador and a player that transcended his sport. His tearful goodbye was shared by tennis fans and sports enthusiasts worldwide, housewives everywhere and of course yours truly!

Phil Clarke - Rugby League

Wayne Pearce - An Australian rugby league legend. His attitude towards fitness and training was an example to all and an inspiration to me. I was 11 when his Australian team toured England and I always remember the rumour that Pearce would run up the five flights of stairs to his hotel room every evening after training and matches rather than take the lift.

Vicky Gomersall - Sky Sports News

Daley Thompson - My sporting hero has to be Daley Thompson. His cheeky approach to winning and that whistling through anthems inspired me to want to win an Olympic medal. Sadly my ability never matched my aspirations!

Sir Ian Botham - Cricket

Jack Nicklaus - Quite simply he is the best thing that ever happened to golf.

Kevin Cadle - NFL

Wilt Chamberlain - When Chamberlain retired from The NBA he was the League's all-time leading scorer. At 7ft 2in he was the greatest athlete of his size. He set the standard for the big man in the game and established over 30 records before he called it quits.

Kelvin Tatum - Speedway

Nigel Mansell -Someone who battled really hard to make it in Formula One and he certainly came good, becoming world champion. Also, from the Speedway world I was very fortunate enough to come in contact with people like Ivan Mauger and Barry Briggs and it was a privilege to receive a lot of advice from such great former world champions.

Ian Payne - Sky Sports News

Mick Jones - My sporting hero is Mick Jones, the former Leeds United striker. If he hadn't broken his collarbone at Wembley in the 1972 FA Cup Final, I'd probably be a professional goat burier.

Guillem Balague - Spanish Football

Juan Antonio San Epifanio (Epi) - Epi was the Spanish basketball player that lead tournament outsiders Spain to the silver medal at 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. Although he was not the most talented of players his drive and determination proved that anything is possible - even for the underdogs. He is now a national hero in Spain.

Chris Kamara - Football

Muhummad Ali - He was so confident in his own ability. He took boxing beyond sport and turned it into an artform.

Stuart Barnes - Rugby Union

Lester Piggott - He drank champagne and was the greatest!

Adam Smith - Boxing

David Gower - A cricketing genius who bore all the qualities of a county squire, aimlessly flicking his wrists to deliver the perfect riposte. Gower's eye, exquisite timing off the willow and loose languid flow painted an idyllic picture on the green fields of England.

Jamie Redknapp - Football

John Barnes - He was my boyhood idol from when I watched him score that goal for England against Brazil. When I joined Liverpool he kept an eye out for me and as I also went on to play alongside him, we became good friends - and still are.

Charlie Nicholas - Football

Kenny Dalglish - I watched him play for Celtic as a boy. When I was first picked for Scotland I kept calling him 'King' all week and in the tunnel before kick-off he turned to me and said "Let's get rid of the hero worship now and get on with it."

Andy Gray - Football

Denis Law - As a kid in Glasgow I used to imitate his goal celebration grabbing my sleeve and pointing arm up in the air. I'm lucky enough to know him fairly well now and he's a smashing lad. He has conducted himself after football with much the same dignity as he did while he was playing the game.

David Gower - Cricket

John McEnroe- He had so much skill, showmanship and class. I also I admire the way he played with so much passion!

Dewi Morris - Rugby Union

Sir Steve Redgrave - What he's done won't be surpassed. If anyone has ever tried rowing they'll know it's one of the hardest things. Even when I was a rugby player and at my physical peak I found it incredibly hard, so for him to be able to do what he's done and show the dedication he has is amazing.

Di Stewart - Golf Night

Goran Ivanisevic - I empathised with him because like me, he was a left-hander with an unconventional approach to what he did. I loved watching him play when I was growing up. I was also lucky enough to watch him win at Wimbledon in 2001 when he beat Pat Rafter.

Who is your sporting hero and why? Let us know by filling in the feedback form below...

And whoever you choose, you can see Sky Sports or Sky Movies with great Sky TV, free broadband and free phone as part of the Heroes season on Sky - click here for more.