PROMISING all-rounder Matt Sanderson has been named as the Derbyshire Premier League young player of the year.
The 19-year-old Lullington Park prospect has been rewarded for a terrific 2011 season where he became one of the mainstays of the defending champions.
He hit 549 runs at an impressive average of 34.31, with a top score of 81, and bowled 175 overs of his off spin, taking 32 wickets at 25.28.
Sanderson — a former Ticknall junior — was rewarded for his form with several appearances for Derbyshire’s 2nd XI and put in key performances in a difficult season as Park finished ninth in the table.
Sanderson, from Moira, follows opening batsman and seam bowler Sam Eaton in taking the award, with Eaton — still a mainstay in the Park line-up — taking the award in 2010.
Meanwhile, James Fern of Alrewas received the Neil Gilliver award for outstanding sportsmanship by a young player in a league match.
And the talented Callum Brodrick, son of stalwart Dunstall spinner Steve, won the Mark Hallows Award for the best bowling analysis by a player under the age of 16.
The youngster took 8-30 with his leg spin for Dunstall 4ths against Castle Donington Town 2nds in Division 10 South last May.
Harry Marshall of Ticknall took the Ted Hough Trophy for the youngest player to score a century in a league match while Richie Brown, another promising Ticknall junior, won the AV Pope Trophy for the youngest player to take five wickets in a league match.
Off the pitch, awards have also been presented to three stalwarts of the Derbyshire County League scene.
Groundsmen Geoff Shilton, from Dunstall, Harold Mansfield, from Winshill, and Ted Shaw, from Lullington, have all be presented with Cyril Mullinger awards for lifetime achievement and effort.
Lullington secretary Dave Fern said: “Ted is a one-club man with an association spanning some six decades with the club.
“Ted is the sort of person who can turn his hand to anything that needs to be done and never shies away from a challenge or job, including the installation of the second square and development of the second ground in the Park in which he took a leading hands-on role.
“Ted takes a great pride in the Park, with his pitch preparation second to none, as again borne out by this season’s markings, together with the high standard of maintenance of the two grounds and the pavilion.
“His hard work and dedication, together with a mechanical aptitude to maintain and as necessary repair ground equipment, make him a key player within the club.”
Dunstall chairman Andy Mandleberg describes Shilton as a “giant” of cricket at Deer Park.
“Geoff has been the keystone of Dunstall since its reformation in the 1960s,” he said. “As a player he has a formidable record, with more than 20,000 runs for the club.
“He has always been closely involved with the club’s administration and has served the club in every office. He continues to give us all the benefit of his enormous experience.
“However, perhaps Geoff’s real legacy is the ground at Dunstall that he maintains to county standard year in and year out.
“He’s a modest man and would never think himself worthy of accolades.
“This award is a fitting tribute to a giant of Dunstall cricket.”
