LIFETIME SERVICES TO COACHING :- GEOFF JAMES
Our lifetime services Coaching Award for 2020 goes to Geoff James.
A Life Member of his beloved Birchfield Harriers, Geoff James has been with ‘The Stags’ for a staggering 67 years. As an athlete he was Midland 400m champion and upon his competitive retirement he turned his hand to coaching with great success. His most famous athlete was Mary Stewart (nee Cotton) who won Commonwealth Games gold over 1500m in Edmonton in 1978, having set a world indoor record at the distance.
Geoff has served as an England athletics coach mentor in recent years as well as acting as an England Team manager. His contribution to the BMC has been multiple and diverse. Firstly, as a BMC Academy Squad Coach at our Academy; secondly as a periodic contributor to our magazine and a thirdly, as a deliverer at our coaching corners. Fast approaching his 80th birthday, he is still going strong with his junior squad in Perry Barr who are regulars in our races.