Volleyball England Annual Awards

To serve and celebrate the Volleyball Community

Volunteers are the driving force of everything that we do, and our sport would simply not exist without them.

The Annual Awards are an effort to recognise outstanding contributions and express heartfelt gratitude to all the volunteers for their dedicated time and effort in fostering a welcoming and vibrant volleyball community!

The Awards include people and clubs from across the volleyball community, including coaches, referees, HEVOs and other volunteers, recognizing those working at budding clubs and Junior grassroots level, right through to Super League and international competitions.

If you have any questions about the Annual Awards, please do not hesitate to reach out to us on membership@volleyballengland.org.


Annual Awards winners 2025

 

Category Winner Club
Universal Services Coach of the Year - Adults Luke WIltshire Southampton Volleyball Club
Coach of the Year - Children & Young People Caitliln Walsh Lincoln Cannons Volleyball Club
Young Coach of the Year Sam Sorsky SideOut Beach Volleyball Club
Referee of the Year Hiroko Turner Richmond Volleyball Club
Young Referee of the Year Evelyn Lee Durham University Volleyball Club
Volunteer of the Year Marcin Pawlowski The Volleyball Project
Young Volunteer of the Year  Benjamin Merry Essex Rebels Volleyball Club
Serena Morten Inclusion Award Elaine Brown Leeds Gorse Volleyball Club
Deep Dish HEVO of the Year Joelson Santy University of Nottingham Volleyball Club
Huck Nets Club of the Year  Brazukas Universe Volleyball Club  
Contribution to Volleyball Navaz Sutton Lincoln Cannons Volleyball Club
Unsung Hero Nicholas Hitt Ivybridge Community College
Peter Wardale Memorial Award Gillian Harrison  

Volleyball's inspiring heroes celebrated at Annual Awards 2025

Coach Ian Legrand Inducted into the Dr. Don Anthony MBE Hall of Fame

You can catch up on the Annual Awards livestream here

Peter Wardale Memorial Award

The Peter Wardale Memorial Award is the highest accolade which can be given to a volunteer. The recipients of this Award are shortlisted by members of the Heritage Project working group, and the winner is selected by the Board. This is awarded to someone who has made an outstanding contribution to volleyball.

Roll of Honour

  • 2000 – Ron Richards
  • 2001 – Dudley Williams
  • 2002 – Roman Parashchak
  • 2003 – Dan Dingle
  • 2004 – Neville Lewis
  • 2006 – Ian Berry
  • 2007 – Freda Bussey (pictured)
  • 2009 – Don Anthony
  • 2012 – Brian Stalker
  • 2013 – Richard Callicott
  • 2014 – Gordon Neale
  • 2015 – Paul Bohannan
  • 2016 - Keith Nicholls
  • 2019 - The Bello Family
  • 2020 - Janet Inman
  • 2022 - Nick Shaffery
  • 2023 - Ken Edwards 
  • 2025 - Gillian Harrison