Will And Alex Take Centre Stage At Awards Night
4 October 2014
Will Gidman was named Player-of-the-Year by Gloucestershire team-mates and supporters at the club’s Annual Awards Evening, held in the Grace Room at the Bristol County Ground.
And on an emotional night for the brothers, Alex Gidman (pictured) collected the Batsman-of-the-Year trophy before receiving a standing ovation from guests when given a Lifetime Achievement Award to mark his 13 years as a Gloucestershire player.
Will was also named Bowler-of-the-Year. With both brothers leaving the club for Nottinghamshire and Worcestershire respectively, it was an evening tinged with sadness, as well as a celebration of personal achievements by the playing staff.
There was also plenty of humour, particularly when guests Mark Alleyne and Andy Brassington reminisced in light-hearted fashion about their Gloucestershire careers with host Jed Pitman.
But the awards took centre stage and ensured a fitting farewell for the Gidmans after their immense contribution on and off the pitch.
Will told this website: “I can’t put into words how much the night has meant to me. I feel very lucky to have spent such a happy time at this club and it makes leaving all the harder.
“First and foremost, all accolades go to Alex. I am very proud of my awards and grateful for them, but what should be talked about most is his contribution to Gloucestershire.
“The standing ovation he received said everything about the amount of respect felt for him. It is phenomenal and rightly so.”
During and after a three-course dinner guests in a packed Grace Room watched filmed highlights of the season and warmly applauded a series of awards.
They began with recognition of the county caps presented during the summer to Will Tavare, Geraint Jones, Patrick Grieshaber, Adam Rouse and Mark Craig.
Framed scorecards were then presented to Will Tavare and Cameron Herring to mark their maiden centuries for the club against Hampshire and Cardiff MCCU respectively and to Chris Dent in recognition of his maiden double century against Cardiff MCCU.
There was recognition of the five or more wickets taken in an LV=County Championship innings by Matt Taylor, Will Gidman (twice), James Fuller and Craig Miles, along with the same feats by Graeme McCarter in the NatWest T20 Blast and David Payne in the Royal London One-Day Cup.
Jed Pitman then drew attention to the club record third-wicket partnership of 392, set by Alex Gidman and Gareth Roderick against Leicestershire in the final home Championship game of the season, which saw Alex go on to score a career-best 264.
Will Tavare collected the Ray Parsons’ Young Player-of-the-Year award, having scored more than 1,000 first class runs in his debut season, while the Collis Cup for Academy Player-of-the-Year award went to batsman Jordan Garrett, who registered a double hundred at Under-17 level, despite being only 14 when the season started.
Will Gidman was then presented with a Bristol Blue Glass decanter as Bowler-of-the-Year before Alex Gidman stepped up to receive the Moreton C. Cullimore Cup for Batsman-of-the-Year.
The Outstanding Performance of the Season award went to Ian Cockbain for his marathon innings of 151 not out, occupying more than eight hours and 421 balls, which saved the Championship game against Surrey at Bristol.
And the Champagne Moment Award was shared by Craig Miles and Liam Norwell for their club record last-wicket partnership of 137 against Worcestershire at Cheltenham, which saw Craig make 62 not out and Liam 78, the highest first class score ever by a Gloucestershire number eleven.
The Supporters’ Player-of-the-Year prize was presented to Will Gidman before he returned to collect the Players’ Player-of-the-Year trophy from Vicky Guy of sponsors St Austell Brewery.
A memorable evening was crowned when, after a tribute from club chairman Roger Cooke, Alex Gidman stepped forward, with everyone on their feet, to receive the Cullimore Lifetime Achievement award from Roger Cullimore.
Director of cricket John Bracewell and chief executive Will Brown spoke of the progress being made by the younger players and predicted some good years ahead for the team, an opinion endorsed by Mark Alleyne and Andy Brassington.
It was a night of nostalgia, celebration and hope for the future.
