New honour for Steve MBE

URMSTON judo coach Steve Pullen has received another top national award to add to his impressive collection.

Steve, who coaches at The George Carnall Leisure Centre, won the GB Coach of the Year award in 1994 for his services to judo and added the MBE to this in 1997.

This month he was invited to attend the National Coaching Foundation's (the NCF) Hall of Fame second annual presentation ceremony at the Cafe Royal in London.

Steve was chosen, along with Sir Alex Ferguson, to be one of five recipients of the prestigious NCF Mussabini Medal in the presence of the NCF Patron the Princess Royal.

The medal recognises coaches who have achieved outstanding success at world class level in the United Kingdom.

Steve's work with national judo and the Blind Judo team over many years saw him a worthy candidate for the award which is only in its second year.

The Princess Royal said: "10,000 coaches regard the NCF's services as being of sufficient value to warrant paying an annual membership fee and the numbers continue to grow year by year.

"I would like to wish the NCF every success for the future in its effort to support coaching in the United Kingdom to achieve recognition as being world class in both its practice and achievement.

Steve explained: "Sam Mussabini was a coach ahead of his time who, as a sports journalist became involved in professional sprinting a century ago.

"His analytical approach, innovation and enthusiasm put him substantially ahead of his contempories and over a span of five Olympics he coached no less than 11 medal winners including Harold Abrahams who was portrayed in the film 'Chariots of Fire'.

As well as his work with international teams Steve, a former PE teacher at Chethams School, has played a big part in the development of grass roots judo and has been largely instrumental in seeing Urmston Judo Club, which he co-founded, become recognised as a centre of excellence for the sport.

Steve Pullen

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