It was a very special evening at the Bradford League Dinner, held at Headingley on Friday (17 November 2023) for Brian Calverley and Hunslet Nelson Cricket Club. Brian picked up the Unsung Hero award for 2023, a brilliant accolade for all the hard work he has put in at Nelson. He has been at the club for 50 years, 42 as groundsman, 41 as a junior coach and 39 as club secretary. Quite incredible numbers!
As well as this he has coached his club’s under-18s, for 21 years, the under-9s for 17 years and the under-11s for 16 years. Alongside his incredible efforts at Hunslet Nelson he has also been a member of the Heavy Woollen Junior League committee for 35 years and has coached the league side at different age groups for 25 years, coaching numerous players who have gone onto to play for Yorkshire and England.
If you were to ask anyone in Yorkshire cricket about Brian there would only be a number of superlatives for him and his incredible dedication to league cricket. Everyone at Hunslet Nelson is aware of how lucky they are to have him at the club.
Chairman Anthony Ryder who attended the dinner had this to say about Brian:
“I could not think of a more worthy winner of this award due to Brian’s 50 years of dedication to Hunslet Nelson and enabling cricket to be accessible to the South Leeds area. We are extremely lucky to have him as such a vital part of Hunslet Nelson Cricket Club and his passion for moving the club forward is seeing our club improve on and off the field.”
Brian ‘the unsung hero’ will continue to work alongside the number of volunteers at Hunslet Nelson for years to come. A club that is on the up and has already held Bradford League showpiece (Finals) events at Gipsy Lane with many more in the pipeline.
This post was written by A Finn
Photo: Brian Calverley (holding the cup) with collegues from Hunslet Nelso Cricket Club
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