Sitting Volleyball Grand Prix round 3 preview - John Postance (Salisbury Spitfires)

For 30 years as player, coach and now chairman, the 60-year-old has pushed to help the Wiltshire club be the best that it can be – and serve the city it occupies in the process.

So, in 2021, when the opportunity to form what is now known as the Sailsbury Spitfires arose, John was delighted to play his part in making the dream a reality.

He was first introduced to sitting volleyball through the army programme Battle Back, which was designed to help injured soldiers returning from Afghanistan stay active.

Interest in setting up a club followed from Paralympians Ben Hall and Kendra Hall and eventually led to the securing of a Volleyball England Foundation grant to help finance operations in those early days.

Three years on and the Spitfires are still gunning for the opponents with the same passion and enthusiasm as when the club was started.

“I started (playing) quite a number of years back with the army which was trying to help those injured get back into the system, trying to help them with sports,” said John. “It was perfect for soldiers that were injured, (so) they could actually take part in a team sport.

“Then we had two Paralympians talk to us about setting up a sitting volleyball club, and that’s when the Spitfires were started up.

“The club’s ambition is to compete at the highest level of volleyball. At the same time, we want to foster the growth of the sport by developing and training junior players and beginners, ensuring a strong foundation for the future of volleyball in our community.
. 
“What we do now is train hard for the two Wednesdays before each Grand Prix – and getting to be trained by a Paralympian is pretty special.”

The third Sitting Volleyball Grand Prix of the 2024-2025 season will take place on Saturday (14th December) at the National Volleyball Centre in Kettering.

The Spitfires won only one of their three games in the previous Grand Prix in November, and will be out to improve on that this weekend, but have nevertheless been pleased with their progress since making their competitive debut.

John said: “In our first season we got promoted from Tier 2 to Tier 1 and (our ambition) since then has been to get as far as we possibly can and try to get as high as we can.

“We’ve got some beginners that don’t play standing but enjoy the sitting volleyball, so we’re trying to bring them along as well and trying to stay in Tier 1 at the same time. It is just phenomenal to be involved with and the team spirit is brilliant.”

Long before sitting became a fixture at Salisbury, John has played a key part in the club’s growth from humble beginnings to where is it today, hosting a junior development squad, three teams in the local league and a number of players playing having turned out at national level.  

He has taken particular pride in taking on the role as chairman, playing a key role in identifying the future direction of the club.

“I like being able to have a voice and being able to change things and move things on,” said John. “People wanted me to be the chairman as well, which was quite nice.

“If people have ideas, problems or questions within the club or a decision needs to be made, that's my role. I’m a very approachable person.”

John, who served in the British Army for more than 40 years, found volleyball in 1988, aged 24, after throwing himself head first into every sporting opportunity offered him. 

From boxing to regimental-level tennis, he gave everything a go until he found his niche – one niche that would take him to see other parts of the world. 

During my time in the army, we’d play a lot of sports. Had a go at volleyball and found I was okay at it,” said John.

“I thought I’d like to try and get better and ended up doing the first two years playing for the army team.”

“I was probably better at volleyball than any other sport. I’d attempt every sport but I felt that I progressed more and played better at volleyball than I did anything else.”

In 2004, after 22 years, Preston-born John completed his regular service and moved on to his current role as a reservist.  

And despite not seeing much success during his time in the army team, the outside hitter always remained positive about the opportunities that volleyball presented him, which has ensured his interest has never dimmed.

“I enjoyed the camaraderie, the teamwork as a player. I enjoyed being a part of a team plus, through the army, it did get me away to places. I played in Gibraltar a few times,” he said.

“Volleyball wasn’t a very supported sport in the army but now, when I’m coaching the ladies, we are doing very well.”

“We played in Gibraltar against the Gibraltarians and Jersey. It was a friendly tournament but we went out there and won that. The Crowns and Inters, we won both of those last year, too, so hopefully we can continue with that.”

As well as playing and coaching, John was among the select few chosen to be a line judge at the 2012 London Olympic Games.

He said: “I put my name in and I went through the selection process, made my own way around the country, line judging in the national league games and ticking the boxes for those that were accessing.

“I think it was over 400 of us that were put in for it and I got into the final 26 that went to the 2012 Olympics and managed to get a final as well.”  

Although a keen coach, John still favours being on the court himself, with a particular liking for beach volleyball. 

Now playing with the Civil Service Sports Council, he has taken his love for that iteration of the sport as far as Barbados.

“I enjoy the sun and I enjoy the fun,” said John. “I’m 60 years old and still diving all over the place! I just love it. 

“My first time in the CSSC we won a competition and the winners of that year went to play in the Caribbean against a Bajan side – and we won it. That’s another highlight of mine from playing.” 

John aims to continue playing for as long as possible and shows no sign of stopping any time soon. 

“I always thought that if I enjoyed the sport enough, which I do, I would just keep coming back and coming back and try to better myself and my team,” he said. 

“When I got into Sailsbury, that just enthused me more to play better and play more and I’ve loved my time with the club. My plan is not to give up until I physically can’t play.”

Article by Beth Owen

---

To find out more about Salisbuy Spitfires Sitting Volleyball Club, click here.

Find out more about the Sitting Grand Prix Series by clicking here.