Kinross Cricket Club head coach, John Ross was awarded the Sport Tayside and Fife “Coach of the Year Award” for 2007 at the annual Perth & Kinross Sports Personality of the Year Awards held at the AK Bell Auditorium in Perth on Monday 10th March. The award was presented by Derek Welch, coach development manager from Sport Tayside and Fife. The award was given in recognition not only of John’s involvement in both the Kinross CC under-13 and under-15 Scottish Cup winning teams but also for his work at area and district level.

As a partner in a leading environmental consultancy business, John was able to divide his time not only to work full time but also to lead the 19 strong coaching team at Kinross CC as well as providing coaching for the Perth & Kinross Area performance development squads at under-14, under-16 and under-18 age groups in the absence of a local cricket development officer for 12 months.

John was also invited to coach the under-14 Central District squad in 2007, leading them to victory at the annual inter-district festival held at Fettes College in July. In October, John was appointed to the Tayside/Fife Regional Academy as Assistant Coach to the under-18 squad.

John was inspirational in forming the Kinross CC junior section of the club in 2005 which now has over 120 junior members. His vision also saw the club secure and move to a new ground at Kinross House. John said “It is always nice to be recognised and I am very honoured to receive the award but the real success behind Kinross and the other teams I have had the opportunity to coach lies, with the entire coaching and management team, the dedication and efforts of the players, the support and commitment from the parents and all the other helpers that enable cricket to move forward.”

This is the second time members of Kinross Cricket Club have been recognised at the Perth & Kinross Sports Personality of the Year Awards with the club’s under-13 Scottish Cup winning team named Team of the Year for 2006.

Asked about plans for the future, John said, “We are aiming to retain our Scottish Cup titles this year, win promotion for our 1st XI and establish Kinross as a centre of excellence for ladies cricket. Additionally, the club is currently implementing the Cricket Scotland club excellence scheme, TopClub to ensure a safe, happy, fair and inclusive environment for all players and I look forward to even more children and adults playing sport in a well managed and organised club”.