Richard Harrison - I am so proud of the diversity in our sport

Richard Harrison, Board member of Volleyball England.

 1. How were you first introduced to Volleyball?

I was introduced to volleyball by John Rodwell at Buttershaw School in Bradford.

2. What was the most difficult skill to master on court?

All of them! Initially I thought that volleyball was a strange American game and I would just continue with football and tolerate it during PE lessons. After a couple of years some of my school friends invited me to join the lunchtime practices. I became hooked. I practiced every day in the gym (we didn't have a sports hall) during term-time sometimes lunchtimes and after school. Gradually I became more proficient in all the skills through practice and playing in many schools and other competitions.

3. What makes you most proud of our Volleyball Family?

It's diversity and appreciation of diversity. From my early days in volleyball I've been conscious of the range of people playing.  By my second year in volleyball John Rodwell had added girls teams for each age group. We often played mixed volleyball. We had a Czech and a Japanese player in our national league team. One evening a week our school team played in a sports hall (a treat) for one set against all the adult teams there which included a team of Sikhs, Bradford United (a Muslim local league team) and the local Polish club.

4. What was your greatest Volleyball achievement?

At the start of my playing career I represented English Schools at Under 16 against Scotland in 1971 (when junior programmes were the responsibility of the English Schools Volleyball Association) at the Meadowbank Stadium, Edinburgh. And in December 2008 at the end of my career I played for England Veterans against Scotland Veterans in the 40th Anniversary Challenge at the Kelvinhall Arena, Glasgow. A great beginning and end for an enjoyable time playing volleyball.

5. What are you missing most during the lockdown?

Meeting other members of our family. 

6. What are you looking forward to most once the lockdown is over?

Greeting other members of our family!