LONG-SERVING cricket coach Gary Pike has become one of only a 1,000 volunteers to be awarded an International Cricket Council medal recognising exceptional service to the game.
The Firwood Bootle stalwart, who will celebrate his 25th year as a coach next summer, was presented with his award by the Indian Test star Virender Sehwag in Nottingham.
However, in addition to being one of only 50 volunteers in the UK to receive the medal marking the ICC centenary, Pike was able to take some of the Wadham Road coaches and juniors to the East Midlands where they were given a day to remember.
"I was so surprised to be chosen, but I can’t do my work without my back-up staff and I was pleased they were part of it too." said Pike. "The people I was most delighted for, though, were the kids.
"We all met some of the Indian players who signed autographs and posed for photos. They then agreed to do a question-and-answer session with the Bootle juniors.
"It was like a who’s who of world cricket in the hotel because there were Australian and other Test cricketers passing through as well.
