Renaming of Sitting Cup as Ken Edwards Trophy 'a fitting and deserved legacy'

For the first time this year – the Volleyball England Sitting Volleyball Cup, which will be contested this Sunday at the NVC in Kettering – will be named in memory of the popular player, coach and administrator, who played a pivotal role in the sport for many years. 

In addition to his indoor club activities in his native county of Essex and also Bedfordshire, Ken served as a County and Regional Chair and was a member of the English Volleyball Association Board (which became Volleyball England). 

He was also a keen advocate of sitting volleyball, setting up the Essex Pirates team and was among the group who helped set up the national Sitting Grand Prix Series, which is still going strong today. 

“Ken was the most-mild mannered and caring who never got flustered, never had a bad word to say about anybody and for whom nothing was too much trouble,” said Janet, who is now the Volleyball England Foundation company Secretary and a Board Member. 

“He was just a lovely man who had a twinkle in his eye and always had a story to tell, but, at the same time, if Ken said he was going to do something, then you knew he would do it. 

“He was someone who people very quickly realised could turn hand to most things, and it’s why he ended up taking on so many roles. 

“Ken was also very good at spotting the potential in other people and politely persuading them that they could take on volunteer roles too. A lot of people thought ‘if he can do so much, surely I could do a little bit to help out’. 

“A lot of people who came into the sport and played important roles in its development in this country were PE teachers and teachers, but Ken was a banker. 

“There are a lot of people in the sport from around the same time who have given so much, including people like George Bulman, Brian Youlden, Pete Lancashire and others who also deserve acknowledgement for what they have done. 

“But this is deserved recognition for Ken – the only shame it was not while he was still with us – and it is a fantastic legacy for the hugely important work he did.” 

Six teams will enter this weekend’s Sitting Cup, including holders Sitting Bucks, who are looking to repeat their double form last year, with Cup Finals Weekend to follow on 26th and 27th April. 

Janet says Ken, who helped with the GB sitting programme in the run up to the London 2012 Olympics, would have been pleased to see the fruits of his labour in relation to sitting volleyball still in evidence today. 

She added: “I think first and foremost, he was a person who believed strongly in inclusion, and how to make the sport accessible to everyone. 

“When he set up the Essex Pirates he didn’t play that much, but that was never his intention. Other people can often set up clubs to give them somewhere where they can play, but Ken’s idea was to give others the opportunity to get involved who might otherwise not be. 

“He was instrumental in the stepping up of the Grand Prix and without him and the others, it wouldn’t be set up as it is today. 

“He very quickly realised that once teams were set up and training, they needed to have a competition to give them something to strive for. 

“A lot of younger players might not realise what Ken did for the sport, so the fact that his name is connected to this event, and people will continue mention his name through the trophy (donated by the Volleyball England Foundation), is fitting.”