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Badge of honour for Inverness wheelchair basketball coach who receives national award





Bryan Stevens (left) received the Eric Liddell Pin Badge and is pictured with Mark Stevenson who won the Russell Hogg Trophy.
Bryan Stevens (left) received the Eric Liddell Pin Badge and is pictured with Mark Stevenson who won the Russell Hogg Trophy.

An Inverness coach has been acknowledged for creating sporting opportunities for disabled people in the north with a national award.

Bryan Stevens received the Eric Liddell Pin Badge for his outstanding contribution to disability sport in the Highlands at the Scottish Disability Sport Awards.

The exclusive award has been given to only 100 people in Scotland.

The 38-year-old was recognised for his work as a coach in delivering and promoting disabled sports in the Highlands.

In recent years, he has been at the forefront of promoting wheelchair basketball, but has also coached in other sports as well during his career.

Despite having a coaching career which has spanned two decades, Stevens says it was still a shock when he received the Eric Liddell Pin Badge.

As proud as he was to receive the accolade, Stevens says the biggest award to him is being able to give disabled people throughout the Highlands the chance to play sport.

“I was really surprised and shocked to receive the award,” he said.

“I don’t do things to get recognition. I do it because I enjoy doing it. I didn’t realise how big the award is until I was down there. It really caught me by surprise when I was given the award.

“I am hugely thankful to them for thinking about me, it is a bit surreal.

“The pride is second to none being able to give people the chance that I never had in my local area when I was younger. I had to travel away and it is great to see where we are now.

“It has taken so much time and effort and it is paying off now. Giving other people the chance to play sport is a great feeling.”

Stevens started his coaching career at just 18, when he was studying at the National Star College in Cheltenham and played basketball for Bristol Pirates.

He returned back to Inverness and coached in a number of sports including race running bikes.

Stevens formed the Inverness Lions Wheelchair Basketball Club which played in the Scottish Development League and finished in third place this season.

Stevens says it was an encouraging debut season for the club and he is looking to promote the sport further and achieve success in the league next season.

He said: “Wheelchair basketball is really taking off and we are really pleased with how the season went and finishing in third.

“I played as well but I have decided to solely focus on coaching from now on.

“My aim is getting players ready for the league and keep in touch with Highland Disability Sport.

“Our aim will be to make a top three finish and make it to the final.

“We are still on the hunt for more players to join us next season and would welcome anyone to join.”


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