As we line up the appointment cycles for all National Team programmes, some staff members have chosen to step back from their role. The Indoor National Team Programmes have been fortunate to have benefited from the experience and loyal service of three committed members of the Scottish Volleyball community.
Bill Stobie, who will be known by many as the driving force behind the ever expanding NUVOC, has supported both junior and senior NT programmes. Bill has been involved for so long that finding the exact date was a challenge, but it was the beginning of the season in 2012! Bill’s highlights include a demanding trip as Team Manager to Cyprus in 2016 and a gold medal winning tour to Luxembourg in 2014 on his first outing with the squad. Bill described his time with the programme as ‘magical, with his most recent involvement acting as Team Manager for the Senior men hosting the SCA finals in June. Bill may be leaving us but we continue to see the benefits of his work at club level with so many juniors involved in the Tartan talent Pathway who have benefited from bill’s experience at club level.
Ken Fraser cut his teeth growing the game in Aberdeen before joining the NT programmes as far back as the UK schools’ games. He spent time as an assistant coach with our age group teams before taking on the head coaches position a few years ago. Ken describes his time working with our aspiring athletes as ‘inspiring’ while ‘watching them grow as athletes and as young adults’. One of Ken’s highlights was taking the U20’s on a tour to the North East of England with their first chance to compete post-COVID. Ken will no doubt be ‘fair trauchled’ due to his volleyball commitments, but his influence will no doubt be seen in years to come with Volleyball Aberdeen boasting current or former players in junior and senior squads in both genders.
John Swan spent 9 years as Team Manager for the senior men’s National Team but steps down to continue his involvement with the FIVB as a supervisor. We still see John upon referees stands across the country but as international competition dates clash with supervisor appointments, he has chosen to relinquish the role as Team Manager with some reluctance. During John’s 9 years with the programme, he will probably be remembered most for his one line responses that would look dry in a desert. John is also renowned for his ability to arrive anywhere just in time for food. His highlight was the tour to the Faroe Islands where the Senior men won their first ever gold at the SCA finals in 2019. Another notable memory from John was miscounting the number of players on the bus after training and leaving Fraser Brown at the Sportshall! John’s banter will be sorely missed but we look forward to watching him represent Scotland through his other commitments.
Scottish Volleyball provides us all with memories and there is no doubt that the outgoing National Team volunteers leave with plenty. However, the impact they have had on Scottish Volleyball is far greater. Bill, Ken, and John, have gone over and above to support our National Team athletes so they can represent us all to the best of their ability.
From all of the Scottish Volleyball community, thank you!