Adrian Stores on the Development of Stockport Volleyball Club

A perfect example of how hard work & dedication pays off, we’ve been chatting to Adrian Stores about the development of Stockport Volleyball Club.

How long have you worked with Stockport Volleyball Club? 

“My Son, Kaya Stores, and I, established the Club in 2015, having returned from watching a Juniors European Tournament in Izmit, Turkiye”.

What is your role within the club? 

 “I guess leading the Club to general ‘dogsbody’.  My official title now is Honorary President and Chairman”.

Could you tell us a brief history about the club? 

“Falling in love with sport eight years ago, we created Stockport Volleyball Club, affectionately known as “the S’PORT”.  It started in a small community hall in a charity for severe, multiple disability residential students.  We included some of these beneficiaries in sitting volleyball and seeing the pleasure simple exercise brought to them was rewarding.  Despite the hall not having a full-sized court, we trained there weekly for juniors, adults social play and after 12 months entered the National Volleyball League (NVL) Men’s Division 3 North. So recruiting a higher standard of player, they still all had to train in this tiny hall.  There was no available full-sized court that met the NVL specification and so we had to pay for equipment and have a court marked out for the triangular fixtures in a local school.  Despite the constraints we secured promotion at the first time of asking.

Since, then our Men have secured more promotions and after last year winning the National Shield have been promoted to the Super League in 2023.  The Team Won 17 of its 18 matches this Year – and Team camaraderie was imperative, stewarded by our Sporting Director and Head Coach, Rafal Lojewski who has been integral to progress and with us since the beginning.  Meanwhile, our Women have had promotion last Year from 3 North and are in the Play Offs for promotion again after finishing runners up and this Weekend are also in the final of the National Shield, led by Director of Development and Head Coach, Anthony Hignett.  Juniors continues to flourish which goes someway to underpin operations”.

Would you say that your previous business experience has been beneficial to building Stockport VC? 

“Certainly, my career in fundraising and sponsorship has helped.  The Club like others in this sport is not financially viable without corporate monies, grants and benefactor, which not everyone appreciates”.

How would you say the club has developed recently?

“From a grass-roots, fledgling Club to now competing with the elite naturally gives me personally, the Management Committee, Coaches and Players pride.  Success does however bring more challenges especially funding for an ever increasing ‘list of wants’ from each Section.  There have even been discussions recently about my stepping aside to allow someone with more time and deeper pockets to take it on.  I will always be a proud Stopfordian and am proud of everything achieved – in the close season, we are pursuing strategic alliances to continue the momentum and try to put the organisation on a firmer footing”.

Fantastic work! Thank-you so much for your time Adrian!