Earlier this month, Valley Parade played host to the Active Bradford Sports Awards, a night that celebrated the very best of the district’s sporting talent, dedication, and community champions. Among the many inspiring stories, one moment stood out above all—when Shiv Krishan, a stalwart of Bradford’s cricketing landscape, took centre stage to receive the Special Recognition Award.
For decades, Shiv has been at the heart of local cricket. His work with Daisy Hill Methodist and later Great Horton Church Cricket Club has shaped not only clubs but also countless young players and coaches who continue to carry his influence forward.
A Humble Yet Deserving Winner
Backstage after collecting the award, Shiv was visibly emotional:
“I’m really privileged to get this honour. In cricket, you meet a lot of good people, and I’ve known many over the years from touring around. I got a job out of it, but it was never about that—it was always a love and passion for the game.”
That passion, Shiv says, was instilled in him by his late colleague Frank Barnett, the much-loved president of Windhill & Daisy Hill Cricket Club, who passed away in December at the age of 86. Shiv fondly reflected that Barnett would have been the first to celebrate with him, glass in hand.
A Pioneer for Bradford Cricket
Shiv’s story is also one of breaking barriers. As one of the first Asian cricket coaches in Bradford, he has spent over 50 years shaping the game at grassroots level. He has seen the local cricket scene evolve dramatically—from the days when volunteers were plentiful to today’s challenges of dwindling numbers despite more money flowing into the professional game.
He has always championed the importance of volunteers and coaches in sustaining grassroots sport:
“We can do all sorts of programmes and work in the community, but we need the volunteers and coaches, as well as people to work with us and get more youngsters into the game.”
At Great Horton Church, Shiv helped establish the club’s first-ever junior team in 2001, alongside colleagues like Taj Butt and Abrar Hussain, with whom he has shared years of dedication to nurturing the next generation.
Impact That Lasts Beyond Matches
Shiv has always measured his success not in trophies but in people. He proudly recalls leading a junior side in 2000 made up of players from diverse backgrounds, united under the banner of Bradford—a symbol of how cricket can bring people together.
Some of his protégés have gone on to great heights:
- Usman Arshad, who played county cricket for Durham.
- Yasser Butt, a celebrated coach with the Bradford & District Visually Impaired Cricket Club.
Yet Shiv remains happiest when mentoring new coaches, ensuring they don’t just complete their courses but feel supported enough to stay in the game.
Recognition Beyond the Pitch
In addition to his cricketing legacy, Shiv is a Sporting Equals Associate Member and a valued member of their Community Advisory Panel. Through this role, he contributes to ensuring that the voices of ethnically diverse communities are heard at the highest levels of sport governance. His leadership bridges grassroots dedication with national conversations on inclusion and representation.
A Fitting Tribute
The Special Recognition Award is not just a personal honour for Shiv Krishan—it is a celebration of decades of service, mentorship, and passion that have inspired a city and beyond.
In his own words, coaching has never been just about cricket:
“I’m a coach and if I can bring people together, for me that’s what life is about.”
Bradford is fortunate to have had a pioneer like Shiv, and his story is a reminder that while trophies fade, the communities we build and the people we inspire remain the true measure of success.
