Would your club like to celebrate the role of the women who go above and beyond for Volleyball.

Here are a few from LEEDS GORSE VOLLEYBALL CLUB

It’s not a coincidence our female side of the club is growing so rapidly. In every age group and division, our girls are supportive and create a sense of belonging. Each year we are adding new junior and adult teams to support the amount of interested generated by our fantastic female programme.  

Chairwomen, Penny Speers, has been actively supporting and leading the Leeds club for years. As we work closely with the universities in Leeds, we attract several international players. Many of us are far from home, but Penny is always there for her players and looks out for us. She is a friend, a mentor, and a mum away from home; we all admire and appreciate her dedication and warmth. This club would not be as successful as it is today without Penny's perseverance and support.

Lizzie Carrick is a star Welfare Officer who won the 2019 Serena Morgan Award, and is flourishing in her role as the Junior Girls Coach. This year, one of her teams advanced the furthest in the history of the junior club, and she was a finalist for the 2020 Young Coach of the Year. She always makes herself available to support her players and is a positive role model for upcoming juniors.  

Virag Farkas put her exceptional experience and expertise to great use by providing sessions for junior players to stay active during lockdown earlier this year, and hosted volleyball fitness and injury prevention sessions for the women's’ teams throughout the spring and summer. This was an excellent way to keep our members active and motivated. Our younger players look up to her for inspiration, so it's wonderful to see such a highly skilled player helping future generations.

Elaine Brown, 2020 Volleyball England Coach of the Year, works to ensure the development and transition of the juniors through to the senior women is runs smoothly, and opportunities are provided to those wanting to be competitive or more actively involved in the club. She is an advocate for inclusivity and equality and strives to provide successful pathways for future generations. 

Two of our top juniors, Elizabeth (Liz) and Evie's dedication, phenomenal work ethic and positive attitudes have greatly contributed to the development and success of the junior girls programme. They led by example through their commitment and desire to succeed in the sport.  Four years down the line, and Evie and Liz are the backbone behind the Leeds Volleyball Junior girls’ teams. Younger girls look up to them for guidance, leadership and inspiration. Both of these exceptional young athletes have bright futures ahead.

Daisy is always bright and cheerful. She brings fun, warmth and bright energy to training and matches. Daisy is always the first to welcome newcomers to the juniors programme and picks up her teammates when they need a little extra help. We are lucky to have such a supportive teammate!

2020 Junior Newcomer of the Year, Kaz, has gone above and beyond advocating for healthy and active lifestyles through ‘Gorse Gets Healthy’ and committing to every training session available. She is a great teammate and has the best attitude a coach could ask for. We expect her to continue progressing through the juniors programme and are happy to have her at our club! 

Thanks LEEDS GORSE VOLLEYBALL CLUBIf

If you would like to share some stories from the women in your club please drop me an email on foundation@volleyballengland.org