Enduring appeal of All Nations Tournament as it celebrates 20 years

It’s been quite some journey for Gary Beckford as organiser of the All Nations tournament.

“It was back in 2005 when it all started – the year that London won the right to host the Olympics,” recalls founder Gary Beckford. “There was a communication that went out that asked for ideas to bring the community together in the city leading up to 2012. 

“That’s when I put forward the idea of the All Nations. They basically came back to me and gave me a £1,000 and said “make it happen in two months” It’s fair to say I wasn’t expecting them to say that!” 

“It was at that point that I rounded up my friends and we set to work organising the first tournament – and it has grown organically from there, bit by bit, with friends telling their friends and them telling their friends. 

“The only thing we did to publicise it this year was to put a video out in February and saying when people could register from and from there we quickly filled all the spaces. 

“It’s a challenge to run, no doubt about it, but I try to treat it like a hobby because if I treated it like work then it would be unnerving because of the size of it!” 

This year’s four-day extravaganza across two weekends will take place this weekend (8th and 9th June) and 15th and 16th June and it has become synonymous with attracting a mix of players from the London area and beyond alongside those from overseas. 

In the first instance, the tournament helped smooth relations between teams and players who might previously have seen themselves as rivals. 

That is helped by the unique nature of the event, whereby people are put together in their teams, rather than them choosing who they play with. 

Gary adds: “We saw that the All Nations could be a tournament that could bring people together. It quickly diffuses any animosity. 

“People are often thrown together with people who are normally their opponents and they soon learn to get along.  

“We have definitely seen how it has helped take the heat out of some of the situations that had previously been building up in league matches.” 

As the tournament has grown in stature, so has the international flavour of the event, which has only added to its inclusive feel. 

What started out with only a handful of people travelling to play from a select number of countries, now sees people fly into the capital from all across the globe. 

“Out of those competing, there will be around 100 different nations represented from 170 clubs playing in 300 matches, mainly in England but also from around the world,” said Gary. 

“I think it was players from France who combned with Mauritius and those from Spain who combined with Italy in the first edition, but now players who were born or grew up in those countries want to play together on the same teams, so it’s evolved. 

“It’s a great opportunity for people to hook up with old volleyball friends in the same place and enjoy some friendly competition at the same time. 

“There are people coming from Brazil, Singapore, all over Europe and from across the UK, so many places, just to come and enjoy themselves and let off some steam. 

“It’s interesting because you get to see the different styles of volleyball that people play in the countries where they grew up. 

“It’s great because no-one knows who the players are they are going to be playing with and what they are like, so they have to quickly adapt, learn about each other and help each other out. 

“For the coaches, too, it’s a challenge because they are working with people who they don’t normally coach week in, week out. They have to make it work when they haven’t got all season to mould a team and put it together.” 

For more on the All Nations Tournament, click here. 

The All Nations has seen plenty of memorable moments down the years, including proposals and several weddings, with a number of couples having met at the event and gone on to tie the knot. 

There’s also been a wide range of players who have taken to the court, from local league players to Olympians and national teams stars, such as Nathan French and current England international Nathan Fullerton. 

A number of Super League players are set to be in attendance this year when play gets underway at the University of East London’s SPortsDock, which, as Gary explained, is the not the first home of the tournament. 

He said: “We started out at the Mulberry Academy in Shoreditch and stayed there from 2005 to 2012, but we simply outgrew the three-court venue in the end. 

“We moved for a year to the Score venue in Leyton for a year, where we had five courts, and then from 2004 we have been at UEL with eight courts. 

“Next year we might move again to somewhere even bigger to cater for the demand because there is a lot to fit in!”  

Two years ago, a separate Junior All Nations Tournament was born out of a need to satisfy a growing urge for younger players to take part. 

But that will come later in summer and, for now, the sights are firmly set on enjoying a 20th anniversary tournament to remember. 

“I think it’s the unique format of the event that gives it such an appeal and why people keep coming back and want to be part of it,” said Gary. 

“We hope the 20th anniversary edition will be just as good as the others have been for everybody – and the people who come along will make it that way I’m sure.” 

For more on the All Nations tournament, click here.