PAUL REWARDED FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE
Paul Garton from West Bridgford has been recognised for outstanding services to grassroots cricket. He was presented with his award by former England batsman, Nick Knight, at the one-day international between England and Bangladesh at Trent Bridge.
Paul (pictured right) was presented with a coaching certificate, as part of the Sky Sports ECB Coach Education Programme. Knight is now one of the pundits for Sky’s cricket coverage. Sixteen coaches from the Midlands area met Nick on the pitch during the change of innings.
Over 100 coaches from across the country are being acknowledged by the programme’s ‘Reward and Recognition’ scheme, which comprises on-pitch presentations throughout the summer by various cricket legends, including the Sky Sports commentary team.
With over 10 years of involvement in cricket coaching, Paul is currently lead coach at West Bridgfordians Cricket Club. Paul has raised the profile of cricket in the borough of Rushcliffe and West Bridgfordians are now the biggest club in Nottinghamshire with seven senior, 13 boys and two girls sides.
All of this has grown from Paul’s decision in 1997 to build the club up from a grassroots level, and by 2009 the club had 230 junior members with 15 junior teams playing in structured cricket leagues, whilst being coached by 19 qualified coaches.
The club has become the biggest set -up in Nottinghamshire through the vision and enthusiasm of Paul.
He told The Local News: “It’s been a very enjoyable day and nice to catch up with the other coaches. Thanks to Stewart Burrows and Keith Tongue and Sky Sports for their support of the Coach Education Programme.”
The Sky Sports ECB Coach Education Programme aims to attract and train coaches at all levels of cricket in England and Wales, from schools cricket to the international game.
Since the beginning of Sky’s sponsorship in 2006, over 23,000 coaches have gone through the scheme, more than triple the original target. There have been 10,000 newly qualified coaches in the last 12 months, which is 77% up on the first two years, and now for every professional cricketer in England and Wales, there are over 100 grassroot coaches.
For more information visit the website skysports.com/coaching.
