Golden Graham bowled over by award

The Oswestry and Shrewsbury disability team coach was invited to the NatWest OSCAs at the home of cricket to collect his award.

Furber's relationship with the sport goes far back, as the 67-year-old recalls being at the very first training session for disabled cricket in Shropshire.

He went along with son Richard, who had spina bifida, to the first session at Cae Glas Park in Oswestry in 1989.

"Two brothers, Dick and Fred Wildgoose (now chairman and director of operations at CFPD), invited myself and Richard, who was 13 at the time, to play for the first time," said Furber.

"I'd been a member of Wem Cricket Club for much of my life. It progressed and, still to this day, we have the only physically disabled league in the country.

"In 1995 we formed the Cricket For Physically Disabled (CFPD). I have been team manager for the England side."

The retired NHS worker joined Wem when he was just 14 and has been a member since, including a stint as chair with the Soulton Road club where he now still helps coach.

Richard continued to play until his condition worsened at 24. He passed away in 2010 but the Bomere Heath-based coach continued his legacy.

He said: "Coaching and taking a position in the sport came naturally. After the first session, I wasn't too sure it was going to take off because everybody struggled through – but it did.

"I was well wrapped up in it when Richard was playing and have continued on in his memory. It's never been a chore. It's always something I've enjoyed.

"You get the full spectrum in disability coaching. From people who have lost a limb to those that are as fit as you or I, but can't comprehend what you're saying.

"It certainly makes you change your approach to coaching."

Four clubs make up three teams in the physical disability league, a side from Shrewsbury and Oswestry, along with a St George's side and the Welsh Dragons outfit from Wrexham.

The England CFPD side that Furber manages enjoy yearly 'international Tests' with Wales.

They play an indoor match at Lord's in March before the return game at Newport CC in south Wales.

Another highlight in recent times was taking an English physical and learning disability hardball side to a national final.

The side were beaten narrowly by Lancashire, but Furber insists it is a marker of how much they have improved.

After helping create and then enhance the sport in Shropshire, Furber suggests it may be his longevity in the sport that caught the eye.

"I was very honoured that they even thought of me," he said. "I'm one of the oldest and have been involved for 26 years, so you could say that I've put the years in.

"First of all the ECB sent me an email inviting me to Lord's and, a bit later on, I had another asking if I'd be willing to receive the award."

Furber's sporting prowess passes down to his other son Christopher, 37, who was lead coach of the Team GB Paralympic cycling team that were so successful in the Beijing and London Paralympic Games.

He is now the national performance director of the GB Paralympic swimming and preparing to make a big splash at the Rio 2016 games.