Tag: UK Coaching Awards

Kadeena Cox’s coaching chain awarded top accolade

The coaches of GB Paralympian Kadeena Cox MBE have won The Coaching Chain award and will receive their accolade at this year’s UK Coaching Awards on Tuesday 7 December.

Further award winners on the night include the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, Richard Brickley and Mussabini Medallists – coaches who supported their athletes to gold medals at this year’s Tokyo Games.

Kadeena Cox’s coaching chain has been recognised for their tremendous impact on her journey to success. The award signifies and celebrates the importance of progressive person-centred coaching and the continuous dedicated support and time invested in athletes throughout their careers.

The coaches behind the growth and development of multi-medallist Cox, who is currently starring in ‘I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!’ are Tom Hodgkinson, Joe McDonnell, Jon Norfolk MBE, Brian Scobie, Sue Bowles, John Westerman and Nathan Wells.

Leeds-born Kadeena’s journey into athletics started when her school hockey coach, Sue Bowles, suggested she tried sprinting after noticing her greatest asset was her speed. After success on the track with athletics coaches John Westerman, Brian Scobie and strength and conditioning coach, Nathan Wells, Cox was diagnosed with the lifelong condition of Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

Just two years after her diagnosis, Paralympic Head Coach for GB Cycling Jon Norfolk MBE supported Cox to achieve an incredible feat when she became the first British Paralympian in 32 years to win gold medals in different sports at a single Games at the 2016 Rio Paralympics.

With the help of sprints coach, Joe McDonnell and British Cycling’s Paralympic Programme coach Tom Hodgkinson, Cox followed this success at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, retaining her C4-5 time trial gold medal and adding further gold in the mixed team sprint C1–5.

Discussing Cox’s achievements, her school hockey coach, Sue Bowles said: “Kadeena is a huge role model to young and old that no matter what obstacles come to you in life, you can still achieve your goals with determination and positivity.

“Kadeena – I cannot tell you how proud I am of you. You totally deserve everything you have achieved and I feel privileged to have played a small part in your incredible journey.”

Tom Hodgkinson, her cycling coach added: “Medals define the champion to the public. However, the great champions are defined by not only what they win but how they take people with them, which Kadeena does more often than anyone else I work with.

“Kadeena has the highest performance behaviours and expectations of her team and her performance. This level is met with her own personal behaviours which make you want to do more for Kadeena, with her unwavering care to check in with her team outside of the sessions that everyone is OK personally, looking after her family, gifting presents to my twins on their birthdays and Christmas, and when times are tough the ability to keep perspective beyond the now and into the future whilst keeping a smile on her face.”

The Coaching Chain category has become one of the highlights of the UK Coaching Awards. Recent winners have included the coaches behind Three Lions superstar Marcus Rashford, Cricket World Cup winner Ben Stokes, Olympic sailing gold medallist Hannah Mills, Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas, Scotland rugby union full-back Stuart Hogg and Olympic hockey gold medallist Kate Richardson-Walsh.

The UK Coaching Awards showcases the diverse work of coaches, projects and organisations, making a huge difference to the health and happiness of the nation – especially against the backdrop of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Along with Cox’s coaching chain to receive accolades on the night will include the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, Richard Brickley. 

Richard is to be recognised for his outstanding service to participants with disabilities having worked for over 40 years to give disabled people the best possible experience in sport and physical activity.

His dedication to creating a culture of inclusion within sport led him to become the inaugural chair of the UK Coaching Learning and Leadership Group, which was formed in 2007 acting as an advisory group to help embed inclusive practices throughout coaching across the UK. 

Reflecting on his award, Richard said: “I am thrilled to receive the UK Coaching Lifetime Achievement Award but at the same time recognise that there are so many others who could equally claim the right to be here.

“Being able to influence the physical activity behaviours of so many participants with physical, sensory, or learning disabilities of all levels of ability over so many years is undoubtedly high up on the list of proudest moments.

“As a member of the Scottish Disability Sport education and coaching tutor team, to be involved in so many projects and programmes that have changed lives – it fills me with enormous satisfaction and pride.”

Coaches of gold medallists at the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo, will receive a special accolade of the Mussabini Medal – named after Scipio Africanus Mussabini (Sam), widely recognised as a pioneer of modern sports coaching.

Between the 1908 and 1928 Games, Sam coached athletes to 11 Olympic medals, including five Golds. The tradition of awarding medals in Sam’s name dates back to the very start of the UK Coaching Awards. 

Coaches to receive a Mussabini Medal include:

Adam ElliottTriathlon
Alex Pinniger Swimming 
Andrew PinkCycling
Angela WeissEquestrian
Ben BrightTriathlon
Bradley HaySwimming 
Chris BartleEquestrian
Colin RadmoreCanoeing
Dan HenchyCycling
Darren Matthews Wheelchair Rugby
David Turner Athletics
Glynn TromansBoccia
Graeme Smith  Swimming 
Graham RavenscroftAthletics
Iain Dyer Cycling
Ian JohnsJudo
Ian MitchellTriathlon
Jacquie MarshallSwimming 
Jan Bartu Pentathlon
Jane FigueiredoDiving
Jenni BanksAthletics
Joe McDonnell Athletics
John HewittCycling
Lee PullenBoxing
Marco Quattrini Pentathlon
Marcus Bloomfield BMX Racing 
Matthew LawrenceCanoeing
Melanie Marshall MBESwimming 
Monica GreenwoodCycling
Nelson Lindsay MBESwimming 
Nick BakerRowing
Nina Venables Equestrian
Paul ShawWheelchair Rugby
Peter RomeFencing
Rich King Cycling
Rikki Bingham Archery
Ritchie BarberSwimming 
Rob Tarr Wheelchair Rugby
Robin ArmayanSwimming 
Robin BrewTriathlon
Ryan Spencer JonesAthletics
Scott Hann MBEGymnastics
Scott PollockCycling
Steve Doig Athletics
Steven TiggSwimming 
Tim Millett  Swimming 
Tom DysonRowing
Tom HodgkinsonCycling

To book your tickets or a spot on the free livestream, head to:  www.ukcoaching.org/events/our-awards.

Coaching legend ‘Parky’ wins lifetime achievement award

‘One of the best’ – Scottish coaching legend Donald Park wins lifetime achievement award


Donald Park, affectionately known as ‘Parky’, has been announced as the winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s UK Coaching Awards, which took place virtually on Thursday (3 December).

The award was officially presented to the former Scotland Under-19s coach by Scottish FA Head of Coach Education and Development Greig Patterson on the evening of the prestigious event, to recognise his achievements through a lifetime dedicated to coaching. 

Originally from Lochaber in the Highlands, Parky’s impact on Scottish football has stretched far and wide. Across his career, which spans five decades, he has been a player, coach, manager, coach educator, volunteer and member of staff with the Scottish FA. His reach has largely included working with young Scottish talent at grassroots clubs, professional clubs and at international level. 


Pro-footballer to full-time coach

As a player, he is best remembered for his time at Patrick Thistle and two spells at Hearts. His coaching career saw him take up posts at Meadowbank Thistle, Arbroath, Hibs, Inverness Caledonian Thistle – where as assistant manager, working under John Robertson, he helped the team win the Scottish First Division and promotion to the Scottish Premier League – and finally, as head coach of the Scotland Under-19s.

So deep was Parky’s commitment to nurturing the footballing talent of young people across Scotland, he spent a lot of his time travelling back north to the Highlands, even whilst based at Hampden Park in Glasgow, to share his wisdom with youth players.

He was also Head of Coach Education at the Scottish FA for eight years, where he worked to develop and broaden coaching opportunities, and used his influence to write, design and deliver coach learning to thousands of coaches. Parky was the driving force behind a bespoke UEFA B Licence for Scotland’s women’s team players, helping several start their coaching journey.

Having retired from his head coaching role with the Scottish FA in 2018, he returned to Hearts to support the youth coaches at the club’s academy as a coach mentor.

Parky continues to give back to the part of the game he loves most: grassroots football. He can be found as a volunteer at his local club, Spartans in Edinburgh, where he currently works with their Under-13s.

“He gave me confidence” 

Acknowledging the countless hours and infectious enthusiasm he continues to give to the sport he loves, Celtic FC captain Scott Brown said that Parky had shown him the true meaning of being a professional footballer.

“He gave me confidence as a young kid to push myself in every aspect and to truly understand the game. He came in every day with a smile on his face and he always wanted the best for all the lads that came into Hibernian; he had so much time for everyone.”

Former Hibs, Rangers, Celtic, Wolves, Derby, Cardiff and Scotland striker Kenny Miller called Parky “one of the best” he’d ever worked with and former Hibs and Rangers midfielder Kevin Thomson said that he was one of his favourite coaches throughout his whole career. 

“As a young player, he helped guide me on the right values you need not only as a player but as a person.

“His demand of the highest standards every day are the same that I demand of my players now as a coach at Rangers. His infectious personality and love of the game can’t help but make you gravitate towards him.”

Donald Park, said: “If I’m being completely honest, it’s an absolute shock to receive this award. To be presented with this award for doing something that I’ve loved for so long, and been very lucky to be involved in, is very humbling. 

“It’s very nice to hear from players and coaches I’ve worked with during my career and what they have to say about me. I’ve been lucky to have worked with so many talented people and seeing some familiar faces when I received the award meant a lot to me.”

Scottish FA Head of Coach Education and Development Greig Paterson, said:
“If you’re involved in the game of football at any level in Scotland, then you more than likely know Parky.

“He is renowned for the attention to detail he imparts and he has an incredible ability to have everyone eating out of the palms of his hands during his sessions – whether its grassroots players, senior professionals or coaches undertaking a coach education course. 

“His enthusiasm is absolutely infectious and his love for coach education was clear for all to see. I was delighted to be able to come back to the Scottish FA and work closely with Parky, getting to know him better during the three-year period we had before he moved on. There’s not a day that goes by without me reminding myself that I need to live up to the legacy he has left for the coaching workforce in Scotland and beyond.  

“It is testament to the man himself that so many people within the game speak so highly of him. It’s a thoroughly deserved award.”

sportscotland’s CEO Stewart Harris, said: “Every year across Scotland, thousands of dedicated sporting enthusiasts devote their time, knowledge and skills to afford others the chance to take part in sport, and experience all the benefits that come with sport participation. 

“People like Donald are the bedrock of Scottish sport and I’d like to congratulate him for an incredible career that has largely been dedicated to helping others progress.”

UK Coaching’s CEO Mark Gannon, said: “We would like to add our own salute to the applause and congratulations that Donald richly deserves for his efforts in changing people’s lives across 50 years of coaching. 

“Great coaching is about guiding, support and inspiring people to fulfil their aspirations. It is obvious from Donald’s career that he took that responsibility extremely seriously, not only did he help mould great Scottish footballers, he nurtured them to be confident, independent and capable women, men, boys and girls. Well done once again on your fine achievement Donald.”

The UK Coaching Awards showcases the diverse work of coaches, projects and organisations, making a huge difference to the health and happiness of the nation – especially, against the backdrop of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. 

Find out more about the awards and this year’s winners by heading to ukcoaching.org/coachingawards.