That Volleyball Guy

Any feedback? Send me a message In this episode of Digging Deeper, I’m joined by Alex Porter, one of the most influential figures in English volleyball. Alex’s journey through the sport is hard to sum up in just one role. He has captained Team GB, played overseas in Sweden and Austria, coached, led clubs, launched programmes, organised camps, supported athletes into university opportunities, and n...

Any feedback? Send me a message In this episode of The Heritage Show , we sit down with Janet Inman to explore a remarkable life in volleyball — one shaped by leadership, service, vision and a deep commitment to people. Janet shares how her journey first began at an all-girls school, where volleyball gave her the opportunity to compete against a local boys’ school — a connection that would later l...

Any feedback? Send me a message In this episode of Digging Deeper , I’m joined by Katarina Cepinova for a brilliant conversation about her remarkable journey through volleyball. Katarina reflects on her early playing days, including her time playing in London and in the National League, and shares how a referee course with her best friend first opened the door into officiating. What began as somet...

Any feedback? Send me a message In this latest edition of The Heritage Show, in partnership with Volleyball England, I’m joined by Ron Richards for a brilliant conversation that journeys through more than six decades of volleyball history. Ron reflects on his early days of discovering the sport in the 1960s, what volleyball looked like in those formative years, and how the game began to evolve thr...

Any feedback? Send me a message In this episode of Digging Deeper , I’m joined by Peter Bakare — a true mindset athlete with an incredible story of resilience, effort, and belief. Peter shares his journey into volleyball, only picking up the sport at 18 years old , and his extraordinary four-year mission to go from beginner to representing Great Britain at the London 2012 Olympic Games . An ex-bas...

Any feedback? Send me a message We kick off 2026 with an incredible conversation with Paralympian Jodi Hill — a real sportsperson with a story of grit, courage and rediscovery. After a serious accident in 2001, Jodi spent years battling pain until she chose to have her leg amputated in 2010, a decision she describes as finally finding freedom. Just three months later she stepped into a GB sitting...

Any feedback? Send me a message In this powerful Disability History Month special , we dig deeper with Justin Phillips — GB Women’s Sitting Volleyball Head Coach, former Paralympian, and an inspirational figure whose journey in sport began with a life-changing taster session in his late teens. A double amputee who had tried multiple sports growing up, Justin describes the exact moment he hit the s...

Any feedback? Send me a message Think of the athlete who never stops showing up. That’s Anne Jarvis—England captain, Hall of Famer, and the nation’s most capped volleyball player—whose story blends grit, curiosity, and a fierce love for the team game. We trace her path from a sport-filled childhood to the senior squad at 18, where pressure drills, tough camps, and diverse coaching styles forged a...

Any feedback? Send me a message In this episode of Digging Deeper , I’m joined by Nick Heckford, a man whose passion for volleyball and refereeing has carried him on an incredible journey from local courts in Poole, Dorset, all the way to the biggest stages in the sport. At the time of recording, Nick was speaking to me from the Philippines at three o’clock in the morning, where he was working as...

Any feedback? Send me a message As part of Inclusion Week , this special episode of Digging Deeper hears from a true volleyball pioneer — someone championing parts of our sport that too often don’t get a voice. Rajinder Singh shares reflections from his 40+ years in volleyball , beginning with his early days in Bedford, watching his parents and uncles play for their local community team, before go...

Any feedback? Send me a message In this Heritage Show episode, we celebrate the remarkable legacy of Gordon Neale OBE — a true giant of British volleyball and a pioneer of inclusive sport. Gordon shares how his journey began in the Army, playing volleyball over a net strung between two cars in Greece. From there, he went on to play in London and the National League in Essex before establishing a f...

Any feedback? Send me a message Digging Deeper | In partnership with Volleyball England In this episode, I’m joined by Davide Tiberti , the London Lionhearts Women’s coach, to hear his inspiring journey through volleyball — from growing up in Italy to leaving his mark on the English game. Davide’s story begins as a junior in a Serie A club academy in Italy, where he developed his game alongside hi...

Any feedback? Send me a message Welcome back to The Heritage Show! After a well-deserved summer break, we’re recharged and ready to dive into another incredible season celebrating the people who’ve shaped volleyball in the UK. In this episode, I sit down with true volleyball legend Freda Bussey, MBE – a powerhouse who’s been growing the game for over 40 years. We explore Freda’s journey from her e...

Any feedback? Send me a message In this special edition of That Volleyball Guy , I’m joining in with UK Coaching Week to reflect on the Pass It On theme and what better time to do that than after being named Volleyball England’s Coach of the Year . In this episode, I open up about my journey as a coach: how my mindset and approach have evolved over the years, the power of building connection with...

Any feedback? Send me a message Hey everyone, welcome back to another special edition of That Volleyball Guy – The Heritage Show – the series where we celebrate the rich history of volleyball and shine a light on the incredible people who’ve shaped our sport. This series is proudly produced in partnership with Volleyball England. This week is a big one – we’re marking 70 years since the very first...

Any feedback? Send me a message In this episode of That Volleyball Guy Dig Deeper I’m joined by Chloe Allen, captain of the Malory Eagles Women’s team, who has just led her side to an unforgettable season, winning both the Super League and the National Cup. It’s been a long time since Malory were at the top, and Chloe gives us an inside look at how this team came together, grew in confidence, and...

Any feedback? Send me a message This week on That Volleyball Guy , it's a Cup Finals Weekend special. I'm joined by my fellow Volleyball England commentators Michael Hanson-Morris and Jess Smith as we recap an epic two days of volleyball action at the National Volleyball Centre in Kettering. Across 11 matches, 38 sets of volleyball, and one unforgettable reverse sweep, we cover it all —...

Any feedback? Send me a message This is Part Two of The Heritage Show, a special episode of That Volleyball Guy created in partnership with Volleyball England to honour the people, places, and pivotal moments that have shaped the sport in this country. In this second half of our conversation, I’m once again joined by Volleyball England legend Richard Callicott, picking up from where we left off in...

Any feedback? Send me a message In this episode of Digging Deeper , in proud partnership with Volleyball England, we sit down with two incredible champions of the sport: Deb and Bob Pickens. Originally from the USA, Deb and Bob moved to the UK over 40 years ago and what was meant to be a two-year stay turned into a lifelong commitment to developing volleyball in the South East and beyond. Deb refl...

Any feedback? Send me a message It’s the ultimate volleyball showdown! In this special edition Timeout episode, I'm joined by fellow Volleyball England commentator and Super League fanatic Michael Hanson-Morris as we preview the much-anticipated Final 4 Weekend of the Dynamik Men’s Super League and Maaree Women’s Super League, taking place 5–6 April at Crystal Palace. We dive into the drama o...

Any feedback? Send me a message In this episode of Super League Time-Out , I break down all the action from this weekend's matches across the Maaree Women’s Super League and Dynamik Men’s Super League! Joining me this week are three American athletes from the Essex Rebels Women’s team—Thea, Chelsea, and Alexis—as they discuss their win over UON, reflect on their season so far, and share how t...

Any feedback? Send me a message Welcome to the very first episode of The Heritage Show , a special series in partnership with Volleyball England, dedicated to sharing the stories of key figures who have shaped the sport and given so much to its growth. Through these conversations, we celebrate the legacy of volleyball in England, highlighting the pioneers, visionaries, and unsung heroes who have m...

Any feedback? Send me a message The Dynamik Men's and Maaree Women's Super League regular season is reaching its climax, and after a dramatic weekend with 12 matches played, the Final 4 teams are now confirmed. This week, I’m joined by London Giants head coach Mihail Stoev and setter Seth Chen as we discuss their impressive run of six straight wins since Christmas, dropping just one set....

Any feedback? Send me a message What. A. Weekend. The Super League is the most thrilling it’s been in years, with every match delivering drama, grit, and season-defining moments! With just weeks to go, the race for the Final 4 is on, and survival battles are heating up.  💥 Maaree Women's Super League: The East Midlands Darkstar Derbyshire squad is on fire! They stormed through the weekend wi...

Any feedback? Send me a message In this episode of That Volleyball Guy , I sit down with someone I’ve known for years—Sam Shenton, a man for whom volleyball truly is life. From his early days at Newcastle Staffs Volleyball Club to playing professionally in France, Sweden, and the Netherlands, Sam has experienced firsthand what it means to compete at the highest level. He opens up about his journey...