KINTYRE basketball coach Jim Lay is set for a star-studded night out at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards next month.
The 50-year-old teacher, who is from Campbeltown, coaches the Oban High School team and was chosen as BBC Scotland’s Unsung Hero sponsored by Robinsons, and received his award from former 10,000m world champion Liz McColgan last week.
Jim, who has been coaching for 25 years and also set up the St Morris Basketball Club, received a £2,500 bursary and will now go to the NEC in Birmingham, where he will rub shoulders with the great and good of British sport at the glittering awards ceremony next month.
‘I was quite shocked to pick up the award,’ he said. ‘I didn’t know anything about being nominated but I’m really excited by winning. The success we have had has been amazing and I am excited for all the people at the club that we are getting recognised for all the hard work we are putting in.
‘I didn’t really know much about the bursary prize but it would definitely be put back into the club for some new equipment for the teams. I have been really lucky with the opportunities I have had. I had never played basketball before but an opportunity came up to coach some girls who were really keen and they wanted my help to take them further.
‘We set up a side called St Morris Basketball Club and they call themselves the Lady Gladiators. I have been coaching for 25 years now and we formed the club about two years ago and now have sides right up from juniors to seniors.’
The Sports Unsung Hero is sponsored by Robinsons.
