Burroughs' Heartbeat of the Club award fitting title for Billingshurst legend

Billingshurst chairman Jim Burroughs' role in the dramatic rise of the club has been hailed after he won the prestigious Heartbeat of the Club gong at the NatWest OSCARs.
By The Newsroom
Published 24th Sep 2016, 10:00 BST
Updated 7th Jun 2018, 20:47 BST

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Billingshurst chairman Jim Burroughs receives his award from Mark Davis and Donna Fraser. Picture by Sussex CricketBillingshurst chairman Jim Burroughs receives his award from Mark Davis and Donna Fraser. Picture by Sussex Cricket
Billingshurst chairman Jim Burroughs receives his award from Mark Davis and Donna Fraser. Picture by Sussex Cricket

He picked up the prize at the regional annual Outstanding Service to Cricket Awards at Hove on Friday night and goes through to the ECB’s national awards at Lord’s on Tuesday, October 4.

The yearly event is held to recognise those individuals that club and league cricket would not run without.

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Billingshurst committee member and former captain Ben Williams agreed the title of the award is a fitting one for club legend Burroughs - who has undertaken every job at the club.

The award’s criteria says it goes to a ‘volunteer your club simply couldn’t do without’ and Williams said: “Jim won the award for Heartbeat of the Club and that is just what he is at Billingshurst.

“Jim is a great person, who puts his all into community sport.

“His work has had a positive effect on the number of people playing sport through his work and commitment.

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“It proves how far the club has come from 30 years ago and the effect one man has had on the rise.

“Billingshurst were in Division 9 of the West Sussex Invitation League with one adult team and no colts section. Jim is the man from where it has all stemmed from, he has brought all that through and it’s amazing the club was playing Premier Division cricket last year.

“Overall, that’s a rise of 12 divisions in those years.”

The ceremony was hosted by Roger Dakin along with a Q&A with Olympian and Sussex Cricket Foundation trustee Donna Fraser.

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Related topics:BillingshurstHove