Inspire Magazine 2019-20

INSPIRE
2019/20
THIS IS WHY IT'S
SO DIFFICULT!!
Rhondda netball chief
digs deeper into the
quest for equality
MORE THAN
SPORT!!
Treorchy's chelsea
takes a look at some
of the challenges
facing girls today
www.rhonddanetball.com

2

INSPIRE
Issue 02 : autumn/winter 2019/20
A Message from JB...
Rhondda Netball #MORETHANS-
PORT”. I wanted to introduce this
issue of Inspire with that fully in our
minds! When I think about “what
that actually means”, I usually have
a million-thoughts-in-one flashback
over the last few years. But then the
clarity of who we are and what we do
is there for me in all that detail. Yes,
we encourage females to take part
in the wonderful sport that is netball,
but as participants and parents
know, it’s about so much more than
netball. For everyone who takes part;
friendships are created, confidence
is built, health & fitness becomes a
focus, self-esteem is developed, and
a place of belonging is found. And really,
the list could go on and on!
So if you’re one of those that ever
has the thought about what #MORE-
THANSPORT actually means, then I
hope I’ve put a bit more meat on the
bone for you as it were.
We’ve had incredible start to the
new year, with an average of 750 participants
involved every single week
since the first week of September.
And hopefully, this issue of Inspire
will paint a great picture for you…
be inspired!!
Jody Barnes
CONTENTS
3 A Message from JB - Jody Barnes
4 This is Why It's So Difficult? - Lawrie Davies
7 A Word From Our Sponsors - Emma Leeke
8 Club Spotlight - Tonypandy Netball Club
10 Club Spotlight - Porth Netball Club
11 Club Spotlight - Treorchy Netball Club
12 Club Spotlight - Ferndale Netball Club
14 Feedback - from the Wolfpack, Rhondda
Netball's Parent Power
16 Rhondda Netball Timetable
18 Game-Changers... Building Self-Esteem, Encouraging
Social Inclusion, Lifting Aspiration...
Changing Lives! - by Chelsea Davies
20 New Provision for Senior & Youth!
21 Under the Microscope - by Leanne Gillard
22 Rhondda Netball 3-Year Celebration Evening
& Dinner
28 RCT Rockets - It's Time to Fly!! - Lawrie Davies
31 Rockets Add Some Sporting Pedigree
CHRIS BRYANT
member of parliament for rhondda
“Rhondda Netball is making a huge difference to so
many lives in Rhondda. It is the future, and I couldn't
be more pleased to support such an excellent initiative.”
@rhonddanetball
Operations Manager, Rhondda Netball
3

Media big-hitters!! Top journalists & broadcasters, Carolyn Hitt and Graham Thomas fronted
the Rhondda Netball 3-Year Celebration Evening & Dinner in July... see full story pages 22-27
"The softly softly approach to Women in sport
HAS TO STOP. We're not happy with the pace
of change and we're doing something about it."
Laura McAllister, CBE
THIS I S W HY I T ' S
SO DIFFICULT?
4

by
If you cast your minds back to the previous issue of
Inspire, you'll recall that in my lead article, I posed the
question “just why is it so difficult?” in reference to
the issues that females face in the battle for equality
from a sporting perspective. Answering my own
question, I said: “because male-focused provision and
opportunities are still top priority... everywhere!!”
This is why it’s so difficult. And although I didn’t provide
the supporting evidence for my answer and
conclusion then, I intend doing so now.
BY
Lawrie Davies
Founder & Managing Director
Rhondda Netball
But before I do, let me take the opportunity to ask
you another of the questions I posed last time… “in
today’s society, what would you say equated to a scandal
when it comes to the distribution and allocation of
both time and money that could have a 50/50 focus
in terms of males and females? Is it 55/45 in favour of
males?! Or 70/30 maybe?!! Or what about 90/10?!!!”
And before you brush this question off and carry on
reading, let me assure you that your answer to this
question matters much more than you think!
A couple of months ago, we did a serious amount of
research into the sporting landscape of Rhondda Cynon
Taf. When we analysed the data we'd collected,
we were keen to go beyond the face value of the
statistics and go deeper, much deeper. And let
me say too, that for the purposes of this article,
rather than focussing on all of RCT, I’m only looking
at the Rhondda, given that it's the main focus
of our operation at the present time. But please
don’t be under any illusions, the data for Cynon
and Taf is equally as damning and also, it's probably
worth pointing out that we’ve been conservative in
our research approach, choosing not to include anything
that wasn’t definitive. As such, the reality is
almost certainly worse than I'm about to outline…
Male Rugby Teams in Rhondda – 109
Male Football Teams in Rhondda – 97}Total: 217
Male Cricket Teams in Rhondda – 11
5

Female Rugby Teams in Rhondda – 6
Female Football Teams in Rhondda – 10}Total: 16
Female Cricket Teams in Rhondda – 0
The difference is a staggering 201 teams! That's not
participants… that's TEAMS!! It begs another question:
just how on earth can this be the case?
The answers to such a question are endless,
and I could keep you here another
30 pages with just my own opinions! But
to put it simply, the root of the answer
lies within history and infrastructure.
History says, “well that’s how it’s always
been!” And when it comes to infrastructure,
just take a look at this next set of
data measured against the fact that
last year Rhondda Netball had over 60
netball teams under its umbrella (that's
four times the number of female rugby
and football teams in Rhondda even though Rhondda
Netball only started in 2016/17)…
Football, Rugby & Cricket Fields in Rhondda – 35 (3 of
which are in 3 of the 6 secondary schools and are completely
unavailable on weekends – 8.5%)
Netball Courts in Rhondda – 9 (6 of which are in the 6
secondary schools and are completely unavailable on
weekends – 66%)
We actually did an assessment on one of the three
community-based 3G/4G pitches on five evenings one
week earlier this year. Have a guess how many girls
participated? … 0! That's zero!! None!!!
“I guess it all
really comes
down to what
you are prepared
to accept… what
you are prepared
to fight for..”
Each one of these 3G/4G pitches cost around £500,000
to build (which by the way doesn’t include the annual
maintenance that runs well into the thousands of
pounds each year). But as you can see from the data,
and despite the fact many would try to suggest otherwise,
they were built almost exclusively for boys
and men… NOT girls and women!!
How do I know this? Because there are
206 male football and rugby teams in
Rhondda, and only 16 female teams between
the two sports.
If you think the inequality applies only
to all-weather pitches, you need to
think again. In the last two years, one
grass football field alone, which probably
hasn’t had a single female step
onto it (maybe ever!!) had well over
£25,000's worth of capital investment.
Like I said... History!!! Infrastructure!!!
I know what some of the naysayers will argue, “girls
can use them too if they want”. But knowing that the
driving forces behind the 217 male rugby, football and
cricket teams were almost all established in the era of
massive historical (some over 100 years ago!!) and infrastructural
inequality, is that really fair?! I don't think
so... from over 100 years of having the odds completely
stacked against you to “girls can use them too if they
want”, just doesn’t wash, does it?!
However, none of the 700+ words I've already written
matters a jot if you're a female involved in sport,
or you have a daughter who loves sport, and you are
unwilling to play any part in changing the status quo!!
6
“...there’s still so much work to be done in the 21st Century to ensure
women & girls are better represented across the spectrum of sport”
CAROLYN HITT
Award-winning journalist, broadcaster and author

A Word From Our
MAIN SPONSORS
Because believe me when I say this, change is not going
to just happen. In life, and particularly in this economic
climate, you have to fight for everything and
you have to make your voice heard if you want girls
and women to be higher up the priority list. Because
there is a priority list you know?!
I guess it all really comes down to what you are prepared
to accep, and what you are prepared to fight for.
All I can say is that boys and men would be up in arms if
the reality was the other way around. But maybe that’s
why we are where we are? Because a man, me, with
a degree of experience in many facets of sport, saw
opportunity amidst this adversity. The time has arrived
though, for girls, women, mothers, dads, aunties and
uncles to see it too. And I mean really see it.
The fact that Rhondda Netball is now averaging over
750 girls and women taking part in netball outside-ofschool
each week despite the obstacles, is quite simply
mind-blowing. But surely it illustrates not only the
great job our Community Coaches & Role Models do,
but the incredible power of sport itself - particularly
team sport - to change lives!! It improves health & fitness,
creates a sense of belonging, builds confidence,
improves mental health, encourages social inclusion,
improves discipline, develops character, increases social
cohesion, and a whole lot more too!!
Right now though, take Rhondda Netball away and
you’d have boys and men reaping its benefits at a 93%-
to-7% split over girls and women. How crazy is that?!
However, it may not be as crazy as the fact that without
infrastructural change in the next 5 years, there
won’t be a Rhondda Netball in 6 years!!
We’ve had plenty of external help to bring us to this
point, to establish, build and sustain what is now by
far, Wales’ largest female sports participation initiative.
Sponsors have done a bit, Trusts & Foundations
have done a bit, the Local Authority have done a bit,
and plenty of individuals have helped a lot. But certain
help may not be a forever thing, and when that time
comes, provision and opportunities for 750+ girls and
women will have to power itself.
We’ve got a plan, but this time, we need your help! And
before your mind takes you to money, you should know
that it won’t cost you a penny… we just need you to be
willing to say what needs to be said!!
To say my Dad and I were thrilled with all the progress
Rhondda Netball saw across 2018/19 would
be something of an understatement! It’s really
been incredible!! I think the success of the Rascals
and Back to Netball programmes surpassed
all our expectations and it’s been brilliant to see
Rhondda’s girls and women making netball such
a big and central part of their lives.
It was also a joy to celebrate all that’s been
achieved in the first three years since Rhondda
Netball started at the 3-Year Celebration Evening
& Dinner in July. It’s taken a real team effort from
a lot of people to break down many of the barriers
that discouraged Rhondda’s females from
taking part in sport, and all of us at Leekes Retail
are honoured to have played our part in that.
But despite all that’s been achieved, we know
from some of the stories Carolyn shared at the
Celebration Evening & Dinner that the quest for
equality in all things is a long road. And that’s
not forgetting the mind-blowing statistics
Lawrie highlighted regarding the facilities
available to males and females for
team sports (see left). Yes, we still have
a job on our hands. But if these last
three years have shown us anything,
it’s that the appetite and hunger
for change is there. And for as
long as that’s there, we’ll be doing
our bit to help build a better
future for the next generation
of girls and women.
Emma Leeke
Managing Director
Leekes Retail
7

8

@tonypandynetballclub
Tonypandy Netball Club aka "The Pandy Panthas" are
back in action, and they're already making their mark on
the 2019/20 season across all the age groups!
With 160 participants on the books this term, Tonypandy
Netball Club continues to play a key part in the Rhondda
Netball success story. But with Lauren and her band
of Community Coaches & Role Models at the helm, we
shouldn’t be surprised by the fun factor. Caitlin Bray &
Brooke Llewellyn have been excellent additions, and
there’s a real sense of expectation for what’s ahead.
“The Pandy Panthas are incredible! The girls literally make
my week,” said Lauren. “I know we’re in for a great year.”
If you’re from Tonypandy or the Ysgol Nantgwyn cluster
schools… get in touch and get involved!!
Community Coaches & Role Models
Ashleigh Bourne
Caitlin Bray
Keira Gregory
Brooke Llewellyn
Megan Watts
Key Leader:
Lauren Smith
9

@porthnetballclub
The Porth Pythons have grown significantly over the past 3
years and each year, more girls from Porth and the surrounding
villages are taking to the court in their blue and whites!!
Porth Netball Club already has a great story in Rhondda Netball’s
short history and what started out as a last minute addition,
has now grown to over 120 girls participating each week.
Huge credit for this must go to Naomi and the other Community
Coaches & Role Models, but we also can’t forget
Nicola Isaacs at Porth Community School who has such a
big heart for getting girls in the cluster involved in sport.
Porth Netball Club is regarded as Rhondda Netball’s “funniest”
club, and if you’re from Porth or the
Porth Community School cluster, we’d love
you to be part of the family!
Community Coaches & Role Models
Key Leader:
Naomi James
Krystal Evans
Rhiannon Maggs
Rhianna Brown
Lauren Rees
Carys Jones
10

@treorchynetballclub
As Treorchy Netball Club covers the
whole of the Upper Rhondda area, it’s
currently Rhondda Netball’s biggest club with more than
a few committed netballers now calling it home!
“There’s more and more coming through the doors each
week,” said Key Leader, Chelsea. “It’s awesome to see as I
love welcoming new faces and meeting parents of all the girls
we work with. Rhondda Netball has an all-important family
feel and I love playing my part in that in Treorchy. I wouldn’t
want to spend my Wednesday evenings any other way!”
If you’re from the Upper Rhondda area, then do let us
know if you’d like to join Treorchy Netball Club! There’s
not much space, but we do our very best to make sure
everyone has a place! #UppaTreo
Community Coaches & Role Models
Elicia Jones
Lottie Davies
Eleri Evans
Lowri Snooks
Lydia Roberts
Key Leader:
Chelsea Davies
11 9

@ferndalenetballclub
As you can see, Ferndale Netball Club has got a brand-new
look, and the strategic evolution from “Ferns” to “Falcons”
is now fully complete!!
Despite having the smallest catchment in Rhondda,
there’s a strong netball culture in Rhondda and Ferndale
Netball Club is just like Wales in rugby… punching well
above its weight! And building on the great platform
built by Maerdy-born netball legend, Deanna Davies, our
two new Key Leaders – Taylar Moore & Rhiannon Jeffrey
– have raised the bar!
The family feel at the club is at an all-time high and everyone
at the club is ready for an exciting 2019/20. So, if
you’re from the Rhondda Fach area then we’d love you
to get involved this year and join the #Falcons!
Community Coaches & Role Models
Lucy Jones
Cari Evans
Nell Downie
Key Leaders:
Taylar Moore & Rhiannon Jeffrey
12

13

Beth Berry, Alyssa's Mum: Alyssa speaks nonstop
about netball and all her coaches. You inspire
her and she always looks forward to going
to her club which is wonderful to see!
Anonymous: My daughter tends to be left out
of a lot of things, but taking part in Rhondda
Netball has really boosted her confidence!
FEEDBACK... FEEDBACK...
“The strength of the pack is the wolf, and
the strength of the wolf is the pack.”
Another issue of Inspire means
another helping of Rhondda
Netball feedback from all of our
amazing participants, parents,
partners, friends and supporters.
And as you can see, we could barely
fit in all of the great feedback we’ve
had in the last few months since the
previous issue. It’s testament to the
Kayleigh Carey, Mia’s Mum:
Mia absolutely lives and breathes
Rhondda Netball!! Her confidence
has grown so much and
she always shows great sportsmanship.
It’s been great to see
her so focused and so committed
and she's loved making so
many new friends from all over
the Rhondda.
incredible impact the charity has on so
many girls and women, and a big well
done to everyone who works hard
each week to make Rhondda Netball
so widespread and inclusive. But the
time has arrived for words not to just
be read, but for voices to be heard.
Change is needed to build a sustainable
future and the Wolfpack needs you!
14

FEEDBACK... FEEDBACK... FEEDBACK...
Janine Bevan, Elys-Brie’s Mum:
Rhondda Netball is like one big family
and we all love being involved!
Daniel Smith, Jaida’s Dad: Rhondda Netball is an amazing organisation!!!
The time and effort you put into every single child is
impressive. Whether you are a squad player or just starting off,
they treat everyone the same!! Our daughter loves training and
playing, enjoys supporting the older teams, and you can see her
skills and confidence growing all the time. She's made loads of
new friends and even I've made some new buddies with other
Rhondda Netball Dads!!
Catherine Day: When Rhondda Netball say #morethansport,
they certainly mean it!! I initially joined the RN family as a
“Back to Netball” player and quickly realised I was home! The
coaches are outstanding - very approachable, knowledgeable
and trustworthy, and so friendly, kind, and humble. Myself and
team mates have thoroughly enjoyed our time with them so
far and we are excited
as to what’s to come!
Mondays are no longer
dreaded, and we love
training and playing together!
I would not hesitate
in recommending
Rhondda Netball to anyone
and everyone!
“Rhondda Netball continue
to provide a fantastic
opportunity for girls and
their families of the Rhondda Valley. We as a local
authority, appreciate the role organisations like
Rhondda Netball play in getting more people active
and achieving a healthier lifestyle for our residents.
Rhondda Netball’s contribution, particularly
to women and girls, is vital and the local authority
will continue to support them in any way we can.”
Dave Batten, Head of Leisure, Parks & Countryside,
Rhonddda Cynon Taf CBC
“I am thrilled to see the huge number
of girls throwing themselves into
sport thanks to Rhondda Netball!
They are giving hundreds of young
girls and women the opportunity
to enjoy, develop and achieve their
sporting aspirations whilst also encouraging all levels
of abilities to get involved. Rhondda Netball is
making a big difference!!” Becky James, Cycling
World Champion & Olympic Silver Medallist
“It's wonderful to see the positive impact Rhondda
Netball is having on the young girls in
the Rhondda, not only giving them
more opportunities with sport
but also giving each girl involved
a real sense of belonging which
is very important in raising their
self worth and their self esteem!
Rhondda Netball really is working
wonders!!” Sophie Evans,
International Singer
& Actress
15

@ ferndale
community school
@ treorchy
comprehensive
@ ysgol
nantgwyn
WEDNESDAY
5:00 - 6:00 PM
Under 9’s
6:00 - 7:00 PM
Under 11’s
7:00 - 8:00 PM
Under 13’s
8:00 - 9:00 PM
Under 15’s
WEDNESDAY
5:00 - 6:00 PM
Under 9’s
6:00 - 7:00 PM
Under 11’s
7:00 - 8:00 PM
Under 13’s
8:00 - 9:00 PM
Under 15’s
WEDNESDAY
5:00 - 6:00 PM
Under 9’s
6:00 - 7:00 PM
Under 11’s
7:00 - 8:00 PM
Under 13’s
8:00 - 9:00 PM
Under 15’s
TUESDAY
ferndale community
school gym
Under 5’s
Under 7’s
4:15 - 5:15 pm
5:15 - 6:15 pm
TUESDAY
treorchy comprehensive
school gym
Under 5’s
Under 7’s
4:30 - 5:30 pm
5:30 - 6:30 pm
TUESDAY
Und
Und
SEASON
£2 per
£2 per

@ porth
community school
Training @ Ystrad Sports Centre
Monday 7:00 - 8:00 PM
Playing @ Ystrad Sports Centre/YGCR
Monday league nights
(RCT netball league)
WEDNESDAY
5:00 - 6:00 PM
Under 9’s
6:00 - 7:00 PM
Under 11’s
7:00 - 8:00 PM
Under 13’s
thurSDAY
@Ysgol Gyfun cwm rhondda
4:30 - 5:30 PM
Under 15’s
Training @ Ystrad Sports Centre
Monday 8:00 - 9:00 PM
Training @ YGCR
Monday 8:00 - 9:00 PM
Playing @ Ystrad Sports Centre/YGCR
Monday league nights
(RCT netball league)
Playing @ Ystrad Sports Centre/YGCR
Monday league nights
(RCT netball league)
ysgol nantgwyn
school hall
er 5’s
er 7’s
4:30 - 5:30 pm
5:30 - 6:30 pm
Training @ YGCR
Monday 6:40 - 8:00PM
Playing @ Caerphilly
thursday evenings
(A470 netball league)
2019/20
session
session
@RhonddaNetball
More info @ www.rhonddanetball.com

18
Building Self Esteem, Encouraging Social
Inclusion,Lifting Aspirations... Changing Lives!
mum number of likes on your newest
Instagram photo, has never
been greater!
Most people would still say I’m
young (I’m nearly 28), but when I
compare my first phone at the age
of 11 – the mighty “Nokia 3310” -
with the newest iPhone 11, it’s ob-
vious than even though still young,
a lot has changed from when I was
a young girl. I sometimes wish that
you girls could experience some of
the carefree times I had in my childhood.
Life outside of school mostly
consisted of making dens, having
weekly sleepovers with facemasks,
Spice Girls, and deciding when to
wear my favourite bright orange
poppers outfit (true story). Imagine
that on Instagram now!! But
hey, the world’s changed and it’s
hard to see it going back to how
it was, so we need to do our bit as
girls to prepare ourselves to suc-
by
Chelsea Davies
I don’t know about you, but I love
being a girl! It’s not always easy,
especially with the different challenges
you have to face, but I think
it’s pretty special even though it
sometimes doesn’t seem that way.
More and more I feel for you girls
as the pressure to fit in, to look a
certain way, even to get a miniceed
in the world as it is today.
As I said at the start, it’s not always
easy being a girl, but one of the
great things about being a girl in
2019 is that we do have more opportunities
now, because of the
incredible women that have gone
before us. We don’t have to be
held back because of the world we
find ourselves in, and we can build
the future we want to see.
Did you know… in the 1920’s women
fought for the right to vote; in
1968 women gained the right to
have equal access to job listings; in
1970 women fought for the right
to be paid the same as men for the
same work; and in 2013, women
were finally granted the right to
fight on the front line in the army.
In just 100 year, women fought for
and changed all of these things, for
me and for you. But you only have
to read Lawrie’s article on pages
4-7 to know there’s still a very
long way to go!
Have you ever been told you
couldn’t do something because
you’re a girl? Or that you’re not
as good because you’re a girl?
Well, these kind of comments,
from boys in particular, never
sat well with me, and if I ever
heard this kind of remark in the
school yard or PE lessons whilst
choosing teams, I’d feel myself
"...A GREAT ROLE MODEL CAN CHANGE
THE DIRECTION OF YOUR LIFE"
Rhondda Netball's Community Coach & Role Model Development
Programme is changing lives and we're proud to say that throughout the
year, the programme is being supported by the Garfield Weston Foundation,
the Foyle Foundation, The Waterloo Foundation and the Boost Charitable
Trust, as well as one other big-hearted trust! #GameChangers

starting to boil. But I soon realised that having something
to say in those moments didn’t always work out well for
me (I was probably too emotional!!) so I changed tack,
and decided to let my life speak louder than my words.
I wanted to use this article to encourage you
to do the same. You don’t always have to
make a loud noise with your words, because
your actions will speak so much louder than
anything you say. People of action do the
impossible you know?! I read a quote
recently after Eliud Kipchoge became
the first person to break the 2-hour
marathon barrier. So many
thought it was impossible,
but Nelson Mandela had
a great outlook on impossible
that I really like… “It
always seems impossible
until it’s done!”
Girls, what do you want
to do in your life that feels impossible? What are you
dreaming about that looks impossible? Don’t be held
back by the world around you… go for
it! We’re girls, we can do anything!!
Sometimes though, we take the
negative comments or the “she’s
just a girl” comment to heart, and
it dampens our excitement and
kills our focus. That’s when it becomes
important for us girls
to have each other’s backs.
And in a world that often
pits girls against one another,
whether it be over boys
or other things, this is more
important than ever!
All of us at Rhondda Netball
are committed to empowering
today’s generation
of girls and women, and I
couldn’t be more thankful
that that, includes YOU!!!
19

new provision for senior
There’s no doubt that life can sometimes be easier
when you “stick to what you know”. But it’s also
true to say that we don’t always get what we want
by playing things safe.
In June 2018, on the back of a super-successful
year for our junior provision, myself, Lawrie & Jess
sat down to discuss the possibility of starting up a
“Back to Netball” programme, after more than a
few requests from parents started to filter in! For
us, it seemed like too big a risk to plough time
and energy into something that was outside of
our bullseye, and the easiest thing to do at that
moment in time would have been to park it for
another day when we’d developed more leaders.
But being who we are, we decided to give it a go!!
Remarkably, an incredible 56 women turned up for
our first session, and to say we were blown away
would be a big understatement. But the bad news
was, we could only really fit 40 women in as an
absolute max on an ongoing basis, and even that
was at a push! But Rome wasn’t built in a day, and
we knew we had something significant to work with
across 2018/19 and plan to be in a better position for
this year. So I’m delighted to say therefore, that our
brand-new “Senior & Youth” programme has been
established this year with a capacity of 72 girls and
women aged 16-60!!
This has been huge for us, as it's allowed us to not
only accommodate all the women that wanted
to get involved, but also create a home for those
graduating from our Under 15’s teams at our clubs. It
was always heart-breaking when girls got “too old”
to take part in our provision, so the establishment
of this programme has been really special for us.
But the fun (and challenge!!) didn’t stop there...
because our original plan of 8 teams filled up so
quickly - leaving a lot of women who didn’t secure
a place very disappointed - that we had to go back
to the drawing board… again!! And I’ll never forget
Jess saying with her best impression of Puss’n’Boots,
“we can’t just say no, can we?!”
20

and youth!
by
Jody Barnes
The result… we somehow managed to raise the
capacity to 108 so that we could incorporate 4 youth
teams and 8 senior teams into the Rhondda Netball
Family!! Yes, you read that correctly!! ...8 Senior Teams,
housing a cohort of 72 Rhondda women!
Though it’s not been without it’s growing pains, and a
bucket-load of pressure to develop more Community
Coaches & Role Models to keep things sustainable, it’s
been amazing!! The programme has got off to a flying
start and all the ladies and youth girls are loving life.
@rnseniorandyouth
Creating an effective social dynamic is going to be
extremely important for this programme, so we have
plenty to think about moving forward. But we’re already
hearing loads of testimonies from participants of how it’s
helped them make friends as well as getting active.
Looking back at that conversation we had back in June
2018, I’ve come to understand that without a little risk, you
don’t get the rewards. And I couldn’t be more grateful for
the fact that Rhondda Netball now gets the opportunity
to not just reach and make a difference to young girls’
lives, but women’s too.
Leanne
Gillard
Rhondda Netball gets plenty of positive feedback and
encouragement, but occasionally we get feedback
that deserves a bit more of a pedestal. And hopefully,
you’ll agree that the focus of this edition of “Under
the Microscope” is a worthy story indeed.
It’s been a real joy for Rhondda Netball to now have
provision in place for “Mums” as well as daughters.
And this couldn’t be summed up better than with Supermum,
Leanne Gillard, and her daughter Scarlet,
one of Treorchy Netball Club’s Under 11’s players…
"My daughter joined Rhondda Netball in 2017/18 as a
complete novice to netball or any other team sport.
She loved it from the very first day and I did my best
to support her at her Treorchy sessions, watching her
develop and grow a passion for netball. As a fan of
the sport myself, despite not having played since my
secondary school days, I would be watching her weekly
sessions games, itching to get back onto the court
myself! So when Rhondda Netball launched its 'Back to
Netball' programme in 2018 (now the Senior & Youth
Programme, left) I jumped at the chance to be a part
of it and to finally get back on court!! Scarlet and I are
very much part of the Rhondda Netball family, from
the players to the incredibly supportive coaches, and
we feel honoured to be part of it. As a mum, it feels incredible
to share this with my daughter and it’s played
a huge part in increasing our fitness, motivation and
confidence. Thanks to Rhondda Netball and the support
from her coaches and role models, I've witnessed
Scarlet grow so much. Her ability increases week by
week and she is so much more driven to become the
best she can be... in netball and in life.”
Wow! Well done Leanne & Scarlet!! Let’s believe that
over the next few years we’ll hear and read about
many more great life-changing stories like this one…
#MoreThanSport!
21

22
RHONDDA NETBALL 3-YEAR

CELEBRATION EVENING & DINNER
...WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO WIN THE
FIRST GERALD LEEKE AWARD!!!
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RHONDDA NETBALL 3-YEAR CELEBRATION EVENING & DINNER
With Rhondda Netball turning 3 at
the end of 2018/19, it was right and
fitting to celebrate all of the great
achievements in its short history,
and most importantly, honour
those who've helped make it all
possible. And with high-profile
journalists and broadcasters, Carolyn
Hitt & Graham Thomas, fronting
the special occasion,
it really turned out to be a
night to remember!!
“What an outstanding
evening,” Lawrie said
through a big smile.
“Lots of charities use
these types of events
as fundraisers, and
while that may be in
our future, this one
was all focused on
celebrating and honouring
people. It was
awesome to have the
likes of Emma Leeke
in the room, who
along with her Dad
Gerald, has played a massive role in
each of the three years of Rhondda
Netball. There were girls in the
room who’ve literally had their lives
changed because of their support.
And even for those who couldn’t
be there, those like our awesome
Headteacher partners, we were still
able to do a great job of honouring
them, which was so important to us.
The event also gave us a great platform
to set the scene to where we
want to go over the next few years
and Carolyn & Graham did a brilliant
job painting a picture of the current
challenges that must be overcome
for female sporting opportunities to
get the support that male provision
does. My personal hope is
that we’ll look back
on this event one day
and see that it was a
catalyst for a few future
female leaders who were in
the room. Change
won’t just happen,
and it’s going to take
real vision and sacrifice
from girls and
women if we are to
eventually see equality
in this realm.”
When Inspire caught
up with Rhondda
Netball Operations Manager, Jody
Barnes (pictured below with Welsh
sports journalist, Rob Cole who presented
Graham Thomas & Dai Sport
with one of our Oscars), she was in
equally buoyant mood. “I absolutely
loved it,” she beamed! “To hon-
our and say thank you to so many
people in such a high-profile way
was an amazing privilege. And seeing
some of the key girls we’ve impacted
on stage with the likes of Carolyn
was definitely a highlight for me as it
showed just how far we’ve come.”
Credit must also go to Lawrie, Jody
& Jess too, not only for organising a
great evening, but also for the hard
work that goes into the day-to-day
Rhondda Netball operation. The
3-Year Celebration Evening & Dinner
certainly reflected their efforts
and it was great to see so many
people showing their appreciation
to them throughout the night.
But before we run out of space,
we must close with Emma Leeke’s
words as she made the evening’s
two special awards…
As she presented The Gerald
Leeke Award 2018/19, she said:
“This girl's story is quite incredible!
When Lawrie, Jody & Jess told me
about the grit, determination, hard
work and perseverance that she's
displayed over the course of this
year, and all after being diagnosed
with diabetes last September, I
knew straightaway she'd be a worthy
winner. She has demonstrated
many of the character qualities my
Dad demonstrated when he first
joined the family business in 1966,
choosing to focus on the positives
and the potential, rather than the
obstacles. Her drive has impressed
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RHONDDA NETBALL 3-YEAR CELEBRATION EVENING & DINNER
26
everyone and if she continues to
show the same qualities and perseverance
over the coming years,
life is sure to reward her with her
success. Can you please put your
hands together for Amelia Curtis,
the worthy winner of The Gerald
Leeke Award for 2018/19.”
Next, was the Award that carries
her own name... The Emma Leeke
Award 2018/19. “Whilst humbled
that an award could be named
in my honour, I did say to Lawrie
that there really was no need! But
as lots of you will know, he's very
persistent!! When tasked with
identifying a winner, we were keen
to honour someone who's shown
real leadership potential and displayed
a resourcefulness in dealing
with challenges. There's no doubt
that throughout the last two years
we've seen both from the girl that
we've chosen. From the very beginning
of Rhondda Netball in 2016/17
she stood out, not by what she said
but rather her on-court ability. But
when she tore her ACL in Rhondda
Netball's Year 2, she came faceto-face
with her most challenging
moment. It would've been so easy
for her to quit, to take a backseat,
while her friends kicked on. She
chose however, to knuckle down
and fight for the right to get back
on court, and I'm delighted to say
that not only has she re-established
herself as a star player at her age
group, she has also been chosen to
be one of our Community Coaches
& Role Models next year. Whatever
the future holds for this young lady
as a player, my hope is that she will
realise the potential that is inside of
her from a leadership perspective,
and that she will grow the confidence
to inspire and lead others. Ladies
and gentlemen, Lydia Roberts,
winner of The Emma Leeke Award
for 2018/19.”
A resounding success in every respect,
the Rhondda Netball 3-Year
Celebration Evening & Dinner also
set the scene for the future, and
created the distinct impression that
the best is very much yet to come!!

27

RCT ROCKETS...
softly softly approach to Wom-
in sport HAS TO STOP. We're
not happy with the pace
Laura McAllister,
"The
en
28
top coaching team!! The RCT Rockets 2019/20 coaching staff - from
left - Nichola, Deanna, Elicia, Jess, Rhiannon, Tia, Maggs & Ashleigh.

IT'S TIME TO FLY!!
BYby
Lawrie Davies
MANAGING DIRECTOR
RCT ROCKETS
Winston Churchill once said, “We make a living by
what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” The
sentiment is a powerful one, and today's world and
society could learn a lot from it. And when we see
these words put into action to help people and communities
at a level that's way beyond the call of duty,
it should act as inspiration for us to do the same at
whatever level we’re able to. Well, the story of how
an entrepreneurial Rhondda success story got behind
an idea to see Rhondda’s young female athletes go
toe-to-toe with the best of domestic netball in Wales,
is one of those inspiring moments!
I’ve been fortunate to have had a few of these moments
along this journey and none stick in my mind more than
my first meeting with Gerald & Emma Leeke at the end
of 2016. Their heart and generosity helped turn Rhondda
Netball from idea to reality. But my first meeting with
@rctrockets
Dave & Darren (pictured left) at Riskmonitor, about
a vision for the RCT Rockets built off the platform of
Rhondda Netball, was a little different to this, but no less
monumental! The main difference was that Dave was
actually involved in the Treorchy Rugby Club “Dream”
years with my Dad all the way back in the 1990’s (!!) and
both of Darren’s daughters have been part of Rhondda
Netball since they were 8 years old!!! It was obviously
a great scene-setter because straight away they knew
there was substance behind the information my Dad
and I had sent them ahead of time. But even so, a sponsorship
request that would rank as one of the biggest in
netball in Wales, still felt like a long shot! But as soon
as we got talking, I knew that a potential partnership
was about much more than a sponsorship/advertising
deal for them. It was about making a difference
in Rhondda and giving Rhondda's girls and
women the same sporting opportunities that
males have enjoyed for many years.
29

I knew Dave & Darren were generous guys, and I also
knew that their journey to succeed in business over the
last 20 years had equipped them with the kind of experience
and perspective you only get through blood,
sweat and tears. We hoped their entrepreneurial spirit
would see something in our vision for the RCT Rockets
that would encourage them to be the catalysts
for something that’s not been seen in female sport in
Rhondda since the glory days of the Rhondda Rebels.
It speaks volumes that not only did they want to go beyond
our expectations for the RCT Rockets, they also
wanted to support the Rhondda Netball charity by
becoming the official sponsor of the RCT Netball
League, which this year, will be home
to over 60 netball teams across six age
groups! It demonstrated their heart for
Rhondda and their desire to truly make a
difference! I know I speak for everyone
in the RCT Rockets teams and all the
girls and women involved in Rhondda
Netball too, when I say how grateful
we are to them and to everyone at
Riskmonitor for getting behind us.
Every idea needs a spark and I’m confident the RCT
Rockets, thanks to Dave, Darren and Riskmonitor,
now has a chance to do something remarkable over
the next few years. Of course, I can’t be absolutely
certain, but a lot has happened since the day I shared
a plan for Rhondda Netball, and I really feel like there’s
another chapter ready to be written in this story.
Pioneering something means you need pioneers, and
I’m reminded of the time I spent as a young teenager
in Rhondda Schools Rugby in the years after the Treorchy
RFC “Dream” had morphed into
the all-conquering community initiative.
I hung on every word Chris Jones spoke,
hungry to follow his lead as he, with the
backing of the late and great Bernard
Jones OBE, urged us to believe that we
“ordinary” Rhondda boys – could take on the
likes of Cardiff, Swansea, Bridgend,
Llanelli… and win! After losing an
Under 13’s match to Cardiff schools
80-5 it all seemed pretty impossible. But when we held
aloft the Dewar Shield barely two years later, having
beaten Cardiff in the semi-finals and Swansea in the final,
I learnt that hard work, dedication and great leadership,
could overcome any mountain.
So… Rhondda girls… how about you? Do you believe
like I do? Do you believe like Jess & Jody do? Do you
believe like Darren and Dave do? Well, you better believe,
because the ship has left the dock and we’re so
far out at sea that there's no turning back now!
"We’re eager to play our part and we’re hoping that our support,
expertise and experience will help push things to a new level."
Darren James, Executive Director, Riskmonitor Ltd
30

But before we set the engines to full steam ahead for
2019/20, I had the chance to catch up with Darren &
Dave at Riskmonitor HQ when we took some of our
girls and coaches down for a photo. And as you can
imagine, I was excited to get their take on the significant
part they're about to play in both Rhondda Netball
and the vision for the RCT Rockets.
“With two girls who live and breathe Rhondda Netball,
I’ve seen first-hand the amazing impact the programme
is having on so many girls in Rhondda” said Riskmonitor
Executive Director, Darren James. “So when we
saw the materials you sent over and your vision for the
RCT Rockets, it was a no brainer for us. We’re eager to
ROCKETS ADD SOME
SPORTING PEDIGREE!
With the addition of great experience and support from
Darren, Dave and everyone at Riskmonitor, you’d think
the next batch of good news for the RCT Rockets would
have to wait until 2020 at the earliest. But there’s a real
intensity in the air at the minute and Lawrie was keen to
capitalise on the great start the RCT Rockets have had
play our part and we’re hoping that our support,
expertise and experience will help push things
to a new level. It’s a massive vision, but Dave
and I have been encouraged by the passion
and commitment that's going to be key to
changing the norm for Rhondda’s next generation
of sportswomen.”
Darren's co-Director, Dave Dean, was equally
optimistic, “I love big vision,” he said with
a smile. “It’s why I loved being involved in
the Dream alongside Phil in those heady
days in the 1990’s. Not many believed Treorchy
could take on the big clubs in the top
division of Welsh rugby, but it only takes a
few people with the right attitude, skills and
character, and anything is possible. We’ve
been delighted with the way Rhondda Netball
has fought for change over its first few years
and we’re extremely excited by the potential the
RCT Rockets initiative has. Developing leaders is a
passion of mine, and I’ve no doubt that the focus on
the next generation of female leaders and coaches will
pave the way for a successful future.”
So, strap in for a great 2019/20… it’s time to fly!!
to 2019/20 by making a few more changes. “From all
my experiences in sport I’ve learnt that when you have
momentum, you’ve got to use it!” Lawrie said with a big
smile. “And I really felt like now was the right time to introduce
a bit of sporting pedigree into the mix to help
us change the culture within the RCT Rockets set up to
reflect the level of intensity and competitiveness we’ll
need to have if we want to be successful in the longterm.
As such, I’m delighted to announce that
Clive Jones & Gareth Evans have agreed to be
involved in the development of the RCT Rockets
coaching team over the remainder of
this year. Clive’s track record in professional
and top-level school rugby union
is almost unrivalled in the Valleys,
and although he’s incredibly busy
with his role at Coleg y Cymoedd I’m
delighted that he’s agreed to help
mentor some of our key coaches
around his work and family commitments.
Gareth will bring something
different again, and the success he’s
had at Cambrian’s famed football
academy - winning several age grade
Welsh Championships in recent years
– speaks for itself! He’ll be able to
be a bit more hands on than Clive,
attending sessions and providing
real-time feedback to our
coaches, and I’m really hoping
he’ll be able to help us create
a really competitive environment
that pushes our girls
to higher levels of achievement.”
Great news in every
respect. Over to you girls!
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