The Hall Of Fame

This Page is dedicated to people in Bedfordshire that have made a considerable contribution to Netball in our area and have continued to improve the standards of Coaching, Playing, Netball in Schools and Clubs, Umpiring and Administration. Some of the indivuals representing Bedfordshire are:

- Maggie Jackson

- Kelsey Nolan

- Gary Burgess

- Jo Munnion

There are currently many youth players representing England. Bedfordshire County Netball is very proud of all the youth talant.

Please click below to view Current England Youth Diaries from the European Championships.

Players Diaries Include:

Loran Wyatt - U17's

Shaunagh Craig - U17's

Josie Huckle - U19's

Players Diaries

Maggie Jackson

Between 1984 -1987 i was fortunate enough to be in the England Squad enjoying training with Kendra Slawinski amongst others and for two years i found myself in the defensive with her until i warmed the bench. A world games in 1985 and a World Championships in 1987 were the two highlights in that period of my playing career.

Marrying David and two children, Kari and Tom and a short move to the Isle of Man occured between 1989 and 1993 and then we moved back to the mainland to Bedford. I found myself joining Grangers NC and playing with several players who i had only known as the opposition in the past and being coached my Sylvia, which was a lot of fun, Still i know i am never too old to try and improve my defending!

It was at this point i joined forces with Kendra first of all as an antique player for Bedfordshire, then assistant coach and eventually Head Coachwhich was really where my coaching started. A terrific group of players emerged with a national League and InterCounty Win. Netball was changing and i was always keen to challenge myself. I worked with Kendra and Colette Thomson for Birmingham Blaze in the initial 3 years of SuperCup. 2nd place was the best we could do. In 2004 i was very lucky in accepting the invitation to become the assistant England Sqaud Coach and it was a very exciting and challenging 3 years with several tours, the commonwealth games in 2006 where the squad won the Bronze Medal. My time spent with Marg Caldow and the national squad players gave me tremendous experience and a relisation that one has such a lot to learn as a coach.

In 2005 and a rush of blood to the head i joined forces with Gloria Keech, Heather Nolan and Jo Munnion, this is where the Mavericks era began. It was super to have the opportunity to link in with other coaches from other counties, Fiona Murtagh and Sam Bird and also work with a variety of players. Two more years as the bridesmaid in 2nd place and at last in 2008 Mavericks WON the championships. Now the hard work really starts to improve the standard further and bring through home grown players.

Kelsey Nolan

Last year I started off in the extension group, when I was asked to attend national trials in March, I was delighted to be asked, but when I actually got in to talent one I was stunned. I never imagined getting to that point. But being in talent one wasn’t easy. I had to step up my training and not just play netball, I had to do cardio sessions, strength and conditioning sessions- something I had never done before. We had to go to camps, one in the Easter and a nine day camp in august. This was one of the most challenging things I think I’ve ever done. The training was intense but it was an experience I will never forget. After the camps, girls moved between squads and ours was cut to fourteen. Then from September to December we went to Sheffield for the weekend once a month to train. A lot of the training is up to you to do at home, I have a great school which let me use the facilities and great squad members locally who helped to keep me motivated. Unfortunately I didn’t make it to the final 12 and at first I was really disappointed but I turned that disappointment into determination and to try again for the next season.

When playing for mavericks or a talent squad a lot of your time is spent training and playing matches. It does take up a lot of time, but within the squads you meet new people and make new friends away from school etc… Everyone got on really well within the squad this year and we were all really good friends as well as team mates. The matches or camps tend to be on weekends or during holidays. It feels like your weekend is just about netball, but when you step on court to represent your team it pays off and your glad that your there.

This season a number of beds girls have had extra success with being put forward to national screening. As I didn’t make the final 12 last year I was automatically asked to go to the screening. Along with me, Charlotte South, Josie Huckle and Katherine Thornton were other beds mavericks girls asked to attend. Everyone played really well and was pleased with their performances on the day. Unfortunately Charlotte was unfortunate, but she had a fantastic season with mavericks and played many of the talent league matches. Josie, Katherine and I were successful and now go on to the Easter camp to begin the training and trialling process.

Jo Munnion

When people ask me if I miss playing, they seem surprised when I say "no". I explain that I have always been a coach and understand far more than I can physically do so I can achieve much more from the sidelines that I can onthe court."

Gary Burgess

Bedfordshire has produced no less than three international umpires over the years and it’s these three umpires that have been integral in promoting Bedfordshire umpires and developing officials in the county. Sylvia Eastley was our first international umpire and began umpiring the game in its all important development years. The highlights of Sylvia’s career were tours to the Caribbean and a very high profile at the Intercounties Tournaments. Cheryl Danson, now chair women of England Netball had the highlights of her careers in the 1980’s. A notable appointment was to the World Championships in 1987. The most successful umpire in Bedfordshire’s history has now gone on to be the National Umpiring Development Manager for England Netball. Sheelagh Redpath has been integral to the development and the ‘professionalisation’ of umpiring in recent years. Umpiring the first ‘Big’ World Championships Final in Sydney, between Australia and New Zealand in front of 10,000 spectators, Sheelagh set the gold standard of not only Bedfordshire umpires, but for English Umpire’s as a whole.

With the further development of the International Federation of Netball Associations (IFNA) in 1995 a new internationally recognised award - the IFNA Umpires Award (IUA) was introduced. Bedfordshire is yet to have an umpire achieve this new standard but given a few more seasons’ it is thought that Gary Burgess may well be Bedfordshire’s first IUA and indeed the county’s first male International Umpire. Within Gary’s career netball has under gone a commercial facelift. He has umpired on television in the National Super League (NSL) and internationally at two European Championships in Northern Ireland and Malta. When asked what the highlight of his career so far was he commented “Winning England Netball’s Umpire of the Year 2008 has to be my highlight so far as it was voted for by the players and coaches within the NSL itself. Last year I actually got the opportunity to umpire the Australian National team in a closed doors practice match in preparation of the Australia, New Zealand and England Tri Series Tournament. This also features quite high on the list”. When asked what the netball future has in store for him he said “With there being so many international competitions over the next few years I hope to be on the plane to some, if not all of them. It has always been my goal to umpire at the Youth World Championships in the Cook Islands in 2009 and that is still realistic and the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi may also be on the agenda. The way in which netball is developing may also mean that Netball is included in the Olympic programme. To umpire at the Olympics would be the highlight of anyone’s career but there is a long way to go where that’s concerned. I am very proud to umpire for my country but at the heart of it all I am a Bedfordshire umpire through and through”

To not mention the contribution of Bedfordshire’s A Award umpires would be an oversight. Gloria Keech, Ann Norman, Lesley Devereux, Rosemary Smyth, Chris West, Bernadette Palmer have all represented Bedfordshire at many national competitions. Gloria, Bernadette and Lesley have all turned their expertise in umpiring to producing new umpires through coaching and mentoring. It is these ladies that are producing the future of Bedfordshire umpires and we are sure that as time goes by Bedfordshire will continue to be a county renowned for its umpiring pedigree.