A CRICKET coach from Ellesmere has won a coveted Sky Sports England and Wales Cricket Board Award for his coaching ability.


Chris Rodgers, who began his coaching career at Frankton Cricket Club in 2007, picked up his award at the prestigious Sky Sports ECB Coach of the Year Awards ceremony, held at Warwickshire University on January 26.
 

The 25-year-old received recognition of his outstanding services to grassroots cricket having also supported and helped initiate the Shropshire Cricket Board with their brand new coaching programme.
 

Speaking on the night, Chris said: “I am delighted to be recognised by Sky Sports and the ECB and to have won the Young Coach of the Year award.
 

“I feel honoured to be rewarded for something that I love doing and I am certain that this will encourage me further to continue my coaching journey.
“I have learnt so much in the past five years and I am excited to learn more as part of the Sky Sports Coach Education Programme next year,” he added.
 

The awards were presented by Sky Sports Cricket Presenter, Charles Colville, and 2011 ECB Cricketer of the Year, Jonathan Trott who said: “It is really positive for English and Welsh cricket to see such enthusiasm from a young coach like Chris.
“This award is testament to the impact that he has made on grassroots cricket in Shropshire and he is a deserving recipient of the award.
“With coaches like Chris coming through the ranks we have a great chance of continuing to improve the standard of cricket in England and Wales,” he added.
 

Earlier this year to mark his nomination for the award, Chris, who now coaches and plays at Whitchurch Cricket Club, attended a training session that was led by England’s spin coach, Peter Such, at the National Cricket Performance Centre in Loughborough.