Recognition for Gordon

7 March 2007

Bill Gordon receives his pitch award from umpire Peter Willey

Brit Oval Groundsman Bill Gordon left the recent ECB Groundsman of the Year Awards dinner at Wembley with a bag full of booty after winning the top accolades for preparing the best one and four-day pitches in the country during 2006.

Bill, who has worked on the groundstaff at the Brit Oval since 1964, received his four day award from former England cricketer and First Class Umpire Peter Willey and ushered in Howard Johnson to receive the one day award.

Willey also presented the runners-up award in the four day category to Mick Hunt at Lords and in the one day category to Andy Fogarty, groundsman at Headingley Carnegie.

The Brit Oval pitch won top marks based on umpires markings over the 2006 season for both four day and one day matches.

The pitch award in the UCCE category went to John Moden of Fenners at Cambridge University, whilst the best outground pitch award went to Christian Dunkerley and Micky Stewart of Scarborough with Matt Pullen from Whitgift winning runners-up award.

Oakham School’s head groundsman, Keith Exton received the Achievement in Cricket Groundsmanship Award at the ECB Dinner.

The award, sponsored by Ransomes Jacobsen, recognises the dedication and skills of individual groundsmen over a long period. In 1993, Exton persuaded the Bursar of Oakham to spend £50,000 on improving the surfaces for all sports on the School's 48-acre site, including 18 cricket strips which have been enjoyed by Leicestershire CCC and their opponents ever since.

A special award was made on behalf of Turf Professional Magazine with Len Smith of Sophia Gardens in Cardiff named as winner of Turf Professional of the Year Award.

In total, groundstaff from 14 different clubs, from Scotland to Beckenham, were recognised for their work on grounds used in 2006 for first-class cricket.