10 Aug 2024
NVL newcomers part four – Sheffield Springers (men)
Year formed: August 2022.
NVL coaches: James Vohs, Andy Glossop
Social media handles: @springers_vc (Instagram)
Set up not long after the Covid-19 Pandemic, Sheffield Springers is an ambitious club which has already made swift progress.
From originally fielding two teams in 2022, that was expanded to three in 2023 and last season the club entered five teams in both the men’s and women’s Yorkshire Regional League.
In addition, the club has squads in the West Midlands and East Midlands Leagues and has specific junior sessions that are helping them to field national junior competition entries.
The club is seeking to enter a Tier 1 U18 girls squad this year as well as U16 girls, U18 boys and, hopefully, U16 boys.
Recreational sessions are also run for anyone that wants to give volleyball a go, while monthly tournaments are also held.
“Our little club started with a group of ex-players having a conversation about starting a new team to play competitively again,” said joint coach, James Vohs.
“We are doing something right because, from then, we have snowballed. Now we have training equipment that we never had before, we have successful teams and we are encouraging others to learn.
“We want to be a big club with a minibus and eventually our own home, and we want teams in all divisions. Hopefully we can achieve all this and more.”
James says the players are looking forward to the challenge of taking on less familiar teams from a little further afield when they begin their campaign in Division 3 North West.
They will face a local derby with Sheffield 2 and also take teams from the likes of Liverpool, Manchester, York and more.
James added: “We are blessed with some good players. It will be nice to see them compete against teams that can push them in the national set-up.
“We want to create a match atmosphere that will encourage spectators and that’s what we will be looking to do.
“Hopefully we will be able to keep our best players and see how far our club can go and grow.
“We also want to inspire others to play volleyball and make our club look and become more professional.”
James picks out his fellow coach as one of the team’s key players, as well as the team’s regular setter.
“Andy Glossop helps to coach our men’s team, but is also a great all-round player,” said James. “He’s an intelligent player and great outside hitter.
“Radek Mastalerz is one of the best setters in the north. Lots of other teams would like to have him play for them… and they’ve tried.
We are very fortunate to have him play for us. Sadly, he’s not always available due to work and family commitments.
“I’ve picked those two players out, but we have some very good other players too that will worry other teams and we hope to fulfil our potential.”
Click here to follow the club on Instagram.
