Claire – I first played netball at the age of 7 and have continued playing for 57 years. I have played grass roots netball, County, Regional and CENTEX leading to full England trials, during this time my school team came 3rd at U14 National Schools and have also represented 2 clubs that have reached premier league representation.
I am a level 2 netball coach coaching 7 year old beginners to 84 year olds at Walking netball. Coaching has included local league, county squads, regional junior and senior teams as well as the Dubai senior team for their inter gulf competition. Currently I run Grangers Netball, I took over this honour from Sylvia Eastley and took the decision with Maggie Jackson to start the junior section of the club in 2000 when our daughters were old enough to start playing club netball. The junior section has grown from strength to strength with a number of our players representing England over the years and teams gaining places at the National clubs finals.
My playing and coaching journey also led me to selecting county junior players, becoming an England netball tutor, gaining my C umpire award and becoming an umpire mentor.
I became a member of the Bedford Netball league committee before taking a break to raise a family then returning to the committee. During the 20+ years I was on this committee I ran the Youth and Junior league (with the help of my fellow committee members) for 20 years.
I am now a member of the East Region competition TSG organising the East Region Youth League and being vice Chair of the committee, this also led to becoming a member of England Netball National competition TSG. I was pleased to be given the honour of becoming an East Region Life member in recognition of my volunteering in organising and developing the East Region Youth league.
I now have the honour of having one of the Bedford Netball League Cups named after me.