Scotland captain Kyle Coetzer is proud and excited at being recognised for his services to cricket by being made an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List – not to mention grateful to his wife.
The 35 year-old director of cricket at Benwell Hill Cricket Club in Newcastle, was informed of his honour by his wife Sarah while he was on international duty and is glad he can finally stop trying to keep it secret.
He said: “The hardest part has been keeping it quiet. Only our families have known about it.
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“I’m shocked, surprised and extremely proud too. No-one starts out their career looking for accolades and I never really expected this. I’ve always tried to promote the game of cricket wherever my career has taken me and it’s overwhelming to be recognised with this honour.
“I found out a month ago when my wife Sarah opened the letter. It’s just as well she did as I was away playing cricket and we only had a short space of time to reply. I remember listening to the voicemail from here urging me to call her instantly and my thought was ‘oh no, what’s happened?’
“When I called her she was hysterical really with the excitement of it all and I was blown away too. I still am to an extent.”
Cricket is a family affair for the Coetzers. Kyle’s father Peter and brothers Shaun and Stuart all played for Stoneywood-Dyce while his uncle Grant Dugmore played for Eastern Province of South African and Argentina.
Coetzer said: “My roots are firmly in the north-east. I started with Inverurie juniors but my old man (Peter) helped with the amalgamation of Dyce and Stoneywood years ago and once the new club was formed and they brought in overseas coaches and players the family all joined up at People’s Park.
“We retain a foothold there because of dad and whenever I am back in Aberdeen I try to get along to the club. I know it is still in good hands.”
Coetzer captained Scotland to a famous six-run win over England in 50 over ODI in Edinburgh in June last year, scoring 58 runs in the win.
