Birminghams scoop family award

The Birminghams pose with Clydesdale Bank 40 ambassador Paul Collingwood after collecting the 2011 Family of the Year award

A cricket-loving family from Wakefield have been selected as the Clydesdale Bank 40 Family of the Year.

The Birminghams were presented with the award, which recognises a family that has made an outstanding contribution to their local club and community, by Clydesdale Bank ambassador Paul Collingwood at Lancashire’s Old Trafford ground.

The family all play an active part in their club, Newton Hill CC in Wakefield, with dad Lee Birmingham leading the way.

Following an injury that ended Lee's playing days, he set up the club's junior section. Prompted by his son Thomas' interest in playing, Lee has built a thriving junior section with Under-11 and Under-13 teams playing in the Leeds and District Junior League.

Ensuring that all his juniors get great advice and support, Lee is now also an ECB qualified coach.

Lee and Thomas are not the only ones making a difference to Newton Hill CC. Mum Julie runs the tuck shop, manages the team admin and runs the junior tea room at every home game, while daughter Abigail provides the kind of inspirational support every team needs.

Despite having Erbs Palsy, Abigail is at every game, home and away, helps run junior training sessions and spends most of her nights in the tearoom helping with refreshments. This is on top of her running the weekly register for training, which she also participates in on occasions.

In addition to the award, the Birminghams receive £500 for themselves and an ECB Cricket Factory training event for their club, which will take place on 30th October.

The presentation was made as part of the CB40 end-of-season dinner, with cricket stars present including ICC Test Cricketer of the Year and England one-day captain Alastair Cook.

Lee Birmingham said: "We are really very proud and happy to receive the CB40 Family of the Year award. We all enjoy cricket and do what we do for the love of the game.

"Cricket is a family friendly sport, that anyone can enjoy and be part of. We now can't wait for the Cricket Factory to visit Newton Hill, I'm sure it won't be just the juniors section that enjoys it."

Collingwood added: "The Birminghams are a fantastic example of the kinds of families that keep grassroots cricket going up and down the country.

"It's great that Clydesdale Bank recognises the contribution of families to the sport and their communities at the culmination of a brilliant season for English cricket."