ECB Coach Awards – Norfolk Winners 2023

The ECB Coach Awards are an excellent opportunity to celebrate the success stories of volunteer cricket coaches across recreational cricket in Norfolk every year.

We’re thrilled to announce the Norfolk winners of the 2023 ECB Coach Awards. Find out more about the winners below.

Norfolk Young Coach of the Year 2023

EBONY PALMER (Bircham Cricket Club)
A young person who is already making a difference and is already passing on their enthusiasm for the game and inspiring the next generation of players.

Ebony has been part of Bircham CC since she was born. She played through our Youth system and now, at eighteen, is a regular in our 2^nd and Sunday XI’s. In her mid-teens, Ebony decided that she wanted to give something back to the club, and started helping out on our Friday night youth sessions, going on to complete the ECB Support Coach qualification, having received a bursary from the NCB as a female applicant.

We run coaching from May to end-September, and Ebony is there to play her part every Friday night – a huge commitment for a teenager, and one that requires a round trip of over an hour-and-a-half from where her family are now based. She similarly volunteers at a local football club – coaching is in her blood. Under the supervision of our lead coaches, Ebony is key in developing the youngest children at Bircham CC.

Norfolk Coach of the Year 2023

JOSH RING (North Runcton Cricket Club)
A coach who goes the extra mile and is a true coaching hero to their club, league, county or school. They are creative and work with players to help them reach their full potential whilst delivering active and fun sessions.

“Joshy is responsible for the junior coaching nights and arranging and selecting the players for the junior matches and the AllStar’s training. There are approximately 50 attendees, which are split into groups which again he arranges the activities for the other coaches. He openly encourages everyone to join in, gives praise when it’s due, and tips on how to make improvements. He encourages the older junior players to join in senior training sessions, giving them the confidence to make their transition into this group, and improve their cricket.

Joshy always has a smile on his face, interacts with the parents and children with great ease. He is a great asset to the club, we would be lost without him.”

Norfolk Outstanding Contribution – Services to Coaching 2023

IAIN BROWN (Bradenham Cricket Club)
This person is the life and soul at your club, in your league, your county or at your school. They have dedicated a significant amount of time to coaching and have contributed to growing the game.

“Iain’s contribution to coaching within Bradenham CC is unparalleled. He has coached for over 20 years and been lead coach for eight years. He has been personally instrumental in growing the Junior section of the club – in both numbers and reputation – over recent years to the extent that over 100 young players have attended training this year (including a record number of girls). The section is now regarded as one of the most successful and progressive in the county.

He takes personal responsibility for organising and running the Club’s All Stars programmes each year and also devises and runs the Club’s Junior summer camps which are well attended. He has delivered presentations as well as coaching at a number of local junior schools resulting in several boys and girls joining the club and subsequently playing league cricket for the first time.“