Ian Legrand - Be careful what you wish for!

1.How were you first introduced to Volleyball?

1973 - Chase Cross School Romford. The school had a new sports centre open.

A sports coach called Pat Jolly introduced us to volleyball. Pat’s son Kevin was at school with us. He was a badminton international who went onto be one of the first professional players. I once went to watch him play in the Essex Open at the Redbridge Rackets Centre, where East London Lynx Sitting VC now train. I suspect the hall hasn’t been decorated since I was there in the 70’s

I started playing club volleyball a bit later in 1974 initially with Chris Welham at Romford YMCA, and then with John Lowney at Barking Tech. 

The Barking session morphed, via a merger, with Estonian Exiles into Estonian 74. 

George Peto became the coach. George was one of the volleyball pioneers in the U.K. 

George studied at Avery Hill with Don Anthony. A group of our first coaches emerged from that group, including Dave James, George “Spud” Moseley and Nick Moody were also at Avery Hill.

When I was coaching Essex Trinity a few years ago George made a coaching comeback to help us at 80 something.

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

Probably hitting, I never quite managed to marry up my jump with something like a hitting technique! 

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

I have said quite a few times that sitting volleyball is one of the most accessible of the Para sports, you don’t need highly expensive technical kit and if you look at the top men’s teams Iran & Bosnia their other key para sports are power lifting and swimming. However I am particularly proud of our sport in that Rwanda and Iran Women qualified for the Rio Paralympics.

It also crossed my mind that GB men played at a tournament in Egypt in a pool that include Iran, Iraq, USA, GB & Ukraine - Potentially an interesting political mix, however other than a dodgy power cut during a match between Ukraine and Egypt, the teams mixed freely without tensions.

I am also proud of the achievements of the many of the guys who came through the England Junior Programme. It’s good to catch up and see where they are now.

4. What was your greatest Volleyball achievement?

There’s a few - Working with the GB Men and getting into the Worlds top 10 & getting to the London 2012 Quarter Finals - Although we lost to Iran, a professional team that had not lost in 8 years, we played our best volleyball in our biggest match.

I am also proud of my first match coaching England senior men when we beat Denmark 3-2 and when we beat Bosnia, again 3-2 in the European B Championships.

There are a number memorable club achievements with London Docklands and Malory Eagles.

5. What are you missing most during the lockdown?

It’s a case of beware of what you wish for- After the season I was pretty worn out. So the lockdown has been a chance to get on top of the planning for the 2020-21 season with the University of East London & Malory Eagles and for the Great Britain Sitting Programmes. 

I’ve been building up my cycling so I can cycle into UEL once the lockdown is over.

I am now at a point where the planning is done and I want to get back to being on court with the athletes.

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

Having a coffee before training.

Thank you Ian.