Edinburgh’s Josh Manson was awarded the Young Sportsperson of the Year (Male) award at the prestigious Lord’s Taverners Sporting Chance Awards, held at Guildhall, London, on Friday 21st October 2016.
The Lord Taverners, the UK’s leading disability sports charity, facilitate the Sporting Chance Awards which recognise the sporting achievements of young people under the age of 19 years old and the young wheelchair basketball player was recognised for his considerable development over the last 12 – 18 months by receiving the much coveted Young Sportsperson of the Year (Male). The award criteria include sporting excellence, being a role model for others and raising the profile of their sport.
The Lothian Phoenix player, who is also the current Lothian Disability Sport Young Sports Person of the Year, met all the award criteria through his rapid development on the court, becoming an integral player in the U19 Junior League squad. This has been recognised and Manson is now part of the senior Phoenix side, competing in the National League division 3 and division 1 squads, while also being invited to attend GB U23 training camps providing the platform to test his undoubted ability against players older players.
In addition to his achievements on court, the former Currie High School pupil is also excelling and becoming a genuine ambassador for the sport of wheelchair basketball, regularly assisting with coaching the upcoming players at the club, while relishing the leadership role he plays to the youngsters. He has shown a wider commitment towards the sport, helping to raise the profile of the sport in Scotland through a number of presentations to teachers, young people and sporting organisations while also supporting Scottish Disability Sport to convey the important message of including young people with a disability in all aspects of PE.
Furthermore, Josh has immersed himself in the coaching aspect of the sport through attendance at the level 1 coaching course and Positive Coaching Scotland workshops.