Top coaching accolade for Wyre Netball Club's Abby Chamberlain

Abby, the head coach of Wyre Netball Club, now joins the other regional winners in the running for the national honour at next month’s Goalden Globe Awards.

These annual awards celebrate the contribution of volunteers to a sport which is among the most popular among women across the North West.

The award recognises Abby’s contribution as a coach qualified at the highest level and working with players at all levels from grassroots to elite.

Abby has seen membership at Wyre Netball Club grow to more than 300 people.

She has secured partnerships with local businesses and schools, negotiated a partnership with a local gym and created a performance centre for netball at Rossall School, with training sessions at six venues.

The growth of the club saw it named Wyre Council’s sports club of the year for 2018.

Abby manages the personal development of each player and has helped players to earn places in regional and national teams, while also recruiting and mentoring new coaches, both male and female.

During school holidays, Abby runs netball camps and elite performance workshops with Manchester Thunder and England Netball players, enabling players to meet and be coached by their role models.

Abby also serves as Under-13 lead coach and coaching officer for Lancashire County Netball Club, and as head coach for the renowned Manchester Thunder Bees Academy.

The parents’ tournament organised by Abby last year saw more than 100 take part, many of whom went on to join ‘back to netball’ teams.

She has not allowed the pandemic to make the club inactive this year, arranging innovative daily Zoom sessions for members and their families.

Fellow Wyre Netball Club coach Vikki Mayers said: “Abby’s commitment to grassroots netball is phenomenal and her dedication to all players across a range of ages is something to be proud of.

“She will always continue to keep pushing players, coaches and the club forward and we at Wyre NC are so lucky to have her.

“Abby always puts the club’s needs first and dedicates a lot of time to the coaches, players and parents – all this in addition to her full-time work at Lancaster University and supporting her family, especially as she became a new mum in 2018.”

Abby looks forward to representing the region at the England Netball Goalden Globe finals on December 10.

The event will be help virtually this year and will be broadcast on the England Netball YouTube channel.

Wyre Netball Club offers coaching for all ages from four to adult, with teams competing in a wide range of leagues and competitions. For more information about netball activities visit wyrenetballclub. co.uk

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