The 23-year-old earned praise for his inspiration effect on young people’s lives in the local area

Johan de Silva was honoured last Thursday (November 30) at the Middlesex Coaching Association Awards held at Old Actonians CC.

Highgate CC’s All Stars Cricket and Schools Recruitment lead has helped the club make massive strides in 2018 and last week his efforts were recognised.

The Shepherd’s Cot club have gone from 18 All Stars Cricket participants to an incredible 149 – an improvement of 728 per cent.

It saw Highgate put de Silva forward for the Young Coach of the Year award and his work was so impressive it saw him earn the Coach of the Year honour!

As a result of his deserved win, the 23-year-old will now be the Middlesex representative in the national coaching awards.

Upon receiving the accolade, de Silva said: “I’m delighted to have picked up Middlesex Coach of the Year for my work at Highgate.

“Highgate are a great club and I couldn’t be prouder to be a part of the Gators!”

Some of the roles de Silva does include fixtures secretary, hire-outs secretary, recruitment secretary, under-11 team manager, under-15B team manager, club welfare officer, All Stars Cricket Lead and Schools Programme co-ordinator.

Aged just 23, the second-team ace has dedicated an enormous amount of time to Highgate and the real rewards will no doubt follow as more youngster progress into the first XI.

On de Silva’s application, put forward by chairman Sam Ball and administrator Shelley Eaton, it read: “Johan is a credit to Highgate CC. His inexhaustible drive and passion for the game is outstanding.

“At the age of just 23 years old he has dedicated on average 20 to 30 hours a week coaching our junior All Stars Cricket Programme, as well as given all of his personal holiday time this year to help deliver sessions and co-ordinate a 22-school wide schools programme in Barnet, Haringey, Camden and Islington.”

It continued: “Johan presents himself impeccably and is always reliable. He strives to deliver the best coaching product he can and is highly regarded both in the local area and at Middlesex CCC, who he engages with regularly.

“He will be taking on the Director of Junior Cricket Role in 2019 at Highgate which is an extremely positive step for the club.

“Johan had led the introduction of women’s and girls cricket to the club this year and chairs a working group in partnership with Crouch End CC.

“We believe there can be no one more deserving of this award. It is important to us that he receives recognition for the huge contribution to our club and our sport and most importantly for the inspiration and effect he has had on many young people’s lives.

“He will benefit from the recognition and the subsidy towards developing his coaching offering which will be an outstanding investment in the future of cricket.”