ONE of the driving forces of disability sport in Fife has been recognised with a national lifetime achievement award.

Richard Brickley OBE, who until his retirement this year was chair of Disability Sport Fife (DSF), with whom he worked for more than four decades, was honoured at the UK Coaching Awards 2021 last Tuesday.

He was announced as the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award ahead of the ceremony following an inspiring career that saw him involved in seven successive Paralympic Games as a coach or classifier, revolutionising the classification system and making great strides for disability sport.

His work, in partnership with Bob Mitchell, has had a lasting effect in ensuring that activity is inclusive and accessible for all people with a disability in Scotland and, 20 years later, those same innovations to the classification system continue to be used.

At the awards, Richard was recognised for his outstanding service to participants with disabilities, having worked tirelessly to give disabled people the best possible experience in sport and physical activity.

His dedication to creating a culture of inclusion within sport led him to become the inaugural chair of the UK Coaching Learning and Leadership Group, which was formed in 2007 acting as an advisory group to help embed inclusive practices throughout coaching across the UK.

Richard said: “I am thrilled to receive the UK Coaching Lifetime Achievement Award but at the same time recognise that there are so many others who could equally claim the right to be here.

“The last two years have been challenging for all of us involved in sport. Up until a few weeks ago, I managed an outstanding team of Disability Sport Fife coaches who delivered weekly multi-sport and sport-specific sessions for participants with disabilities with support from Fife Sports and Leisure Trust. The value of those sessions to those who attend has been immeasurable.

“I have had a really fortunate coaching career and it is difficult to identify a single proudest moment. Since Disability Sport Fife was formed in 1977, we have produced 26 Paralympians and a Hall of Fame with 21 members. Being selected as a Team GB coach for the Paralympic Games multiple times was very special.

“Above all, being able to influence the physical activity behaviours of so many participants with physical, sensory, or learning disabilities of all levels of ability over so many years is undoubtedly high up on the list of proudest moments. Being a member of the Scottish Disability Sport education and coaching tutor team and being involved in so many projects and programmes that have changed lives fills me with enormous satisfaction and pride.”