Dons boss rewarded for outstanding season with national award.
Club Doncaster is today lauding the tremendous achievements of Doncaster RLFC’s player/coach Paul Cooke.Cooke, 33, was last night named the Kingstone Press Championship Coach of the Year at a glamorous black tie event in Manchester after receiving the biggest percentage of the votes from his peers.
The award is one of the most prestigious outside the Super League and represents a huge coo for Paul, Doncaster RLFC and Club Doncaster as a whole.
Club Doncaster Chief Executive Gavin Baldwin said: “We are really proud of the way Paul conducts his business both on and off the field.
“Paul is a pleasure to work with, his credentials as a player are there for all to see and we believe he will coach at the highest level and to complete the Paul Cooke package he has a very sharp business brain.
“Paul’s contribution to the Club and the Community of Doncaster is 7 days a week and the standards he sets himself are the highest possible. We are proud of him and would like to thank those that have recognised his contribution.”
Cooke, in his first season in charge guided the club to a fourth placed finish in the Championship.
The Dons were the only side in the division to beat league leaders and play-off finalists Leigh Centurions, and also recorded notable victories over Featherstone Rovers, Halifax and Sheffield Eagles.
Carl Hall, Chief Executive of Doncaster RLFC, who brought the former Hull FC, Hull KR and Wakefield star to South Yorkshire spoke of his delight. “We knew Paul was special when we signed him. He’s not just a good player but a good person and now he’s coming good as a coach,” he said.
“For Paul to be able to combine his playing duties and coaching commitments to the Dons, as well as his work with Doncaster Knights is a real tribute to his work ethic and dedication – he never stops.
“This sort of recognition makes it all worthwhile but both the club and Paul have come a long way in a short space of time and we feel that this is just the start of things to come.”
Everyone at Club Doncaster would like to congratulate Paul and his team on this fantastic achievement.