Caledonia Gladiators have been shortlisted for two of Sport Scotland’s ‘Scottish Sports Awards’ 2023. This is where the organisation recognise the schools, clubs, community projects and people making a difference in sport across Scotland, alongside the country’s top athletes in an event that will celebrate the best of Scottish sport.
Firstly, men’s Head Coach Gareth Murray has been nominated for the ‘Coach of the Year’ award alongside football’s Steve Clarke and Athletics’ Steve Doig. Murray has been at the helm of the Gladiators during a historic year, as documented by the hit BBC documentary, ‘Ballers: Ball or Nothing’. His side won the British Basketball League Trophy in style and finished fourth in a highly competitive British Basketball League. Now, this season, he has been leading the way as Gladiators pave their way in European competition, having won their first FIBA Europe Cup game away to CSU Sibiu in Romania.
Also, the historic British Basketball League Trophy win has been highlighted and shortlisted for the ‘Moment of the Year’ award amongst standout events across a range of sports. In March of this year, the Caledonia Gladiators’ men’s side defeated Cheshire Phoenix 73-70 thanks to a David Sloan buzzer-beater that sent 6,000 Scottish fans wild. The moment brought the franchise’s first silverware since 2003 when the then-Glasgow Rocks won the British Basketball League Playoffs.
The Scottish Sports Awards 2023 will take place on Thursday 7 December 2023, in a new format held at the Glasgow Science Centre, a fantastic year of achievement will be honoured on the biggest screen in Scotland. Guests will be treated to a night of celebration, food and drinks as well as rubbing shoulders with the great and the good of Scottish Sport. Tickets are on sale now for £65 per person.
You can find a full list of the awards’ finalists HERE.