Richard Woodmason named runner-up for Sky Sports Young Coach of the Year Award
5 December 2013
Frocester CC’s Richard Woodmason has been named as a runner-up for the Sky Sports ECB Young Coach of the Year Award.
The 20-year-old, who is currently spending the winter as a groundsman in Australia, was nominated for the national award for his outstanding work with a wide range of different players.
In the summer of 2013 alone Richard managed the Gloucestershire Under 14 team, visited schools as part of the Chance To Shine scheme and coached young people with disabilities.
Arguably his biggest achievement was helping Kings Stanley CC establish a new youth section by inspiring children from local primary schools to take up cricket and join the club.
Richard - who is the son of GCB clubs and programmes officer Eric Woodmason - was unable to attend the awards ceremony at Lord’s as he is spending the winter in Perth, playing at Western Suburbs and helping to prepare their ground.
In his absence a video was played showing Richard coaching and featuring tributes from a number of his colleagues.
GCB communications officer, Luke Sellers, who coached the county boys Under 14 team alongside Richard last season said: "Richard was hugely popular with the players and his enthusiasm is infectious. He is open to learning, willing to take on a challenge and has everything you need to become an excellent coach.
“It is a fantastic achievement to finish as a runner-up for what is a very prestigious award. I am really pleased for him and I hope he takes great confidence from it.”
Other people to pay tribute on the video include Frocester youth coach Steve Tegg and teachers from local primary schools.
To watch the video - which was produced by Sharp Focus – visit: http://youtu.be/-ZxD12lI3ec
