FOR NYACC MAN
Gordon Lake has ended a memorable year by being awarded the prestigious Sir Bobby Robson Leading Light award at the Northern Echo’s Local Heroes Awards function held at Hardwick Hall near Sedgefield at the beginning of December – the premier sporting awards in the North-east.
Gordon, who is 76 and from Stockton-on-Tees, was inducted into the NYSD Premier League’s Hall of Fame earlier this year, before going on to take the main honour at the Northern Echo event which covers all sports, and his success could hardly have been more deserved after a lifetime of dedication to cricket in the region.
He has been a cricketing mainstay in the area for more than half a century. A prominent member of Stockton Cricket Club, where the hospitality lounge bears his name, he has held senior roles with a number of organisations, including Cleveland Schools and the North Yorkshire Area Cricket Council Junior Leagues.
As the top man in the NYACC for decade after decade Gordon has overseen the continued success and expansion of junior cricket in the Tees Valley region with leagues and cup competitions organized at four age group levels from under 11 to under 15, these competitions embracing more than 80 teams. He was pivotal in the development of the Cleveland Schools Cricket Association, and continues to oversee five age groups at County level some 30 years later.
Gordon, who still organizes and runs coaching sessions for hundreds of young people at his beloved Grangefield Road ground, was once a leading player himself, captaining Stockton to the NYSD A Division title in 1975 and representing Durham in their Minor Counties days. A 16-year stint as secretary of Stockton was interspersed with service on the NYSD league management committee where he sat for 20 years.
And Gordon wasn’t the only one to be recognized from the game of cricket at the awards with Sessay taking the Senior Team of the Year category after their feat in regaining the National Village Cup at Lord’s during the summer.