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In this Heritage Show episode, we celebrate the remarkable legacy of Gordon Neale OBE — a true giant of British volleyball and a pioneer of inclusive sport.

Gordon shares how his journey began in the Army, playing volleyball over a net strung between two cars in Greece. From there, he went on to play in London and the National League in Essex before establishing a formal volleyball programme for the Army. He reflects on the challenges he faced embedding the sport into military life and how it developed over time.

We then explore Gordon’s incredible role in bringing sitting volleyball to the UK, sparked by a magazine article that led him to support individuals who wanted to play. A passionate advocate for inclusive sport, Gordon discusses the early barriers he faced, the vital support of the national governing body, and the pride of taking teams to international competitions — including a memorable trip to Las Vegas.

Gordon also shares insights from his time as a sitting volleyball referee, including officiating at two Paralympic Games, as well as his leadership roles across Volleyball England, the British Volleyball Federation, and World ParaVolley.

Celebrating 50 years in the sport, Gordon reflects on receiving his OBE, multiple Hall of Fame inductions, and a lifetime of service to volleyball.

An inspiring conversation with a man who has given so much to the game — you won’t want to miss this one!

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Digging Deeper | In partnership with Volleyball England

In this episode, I’m joined by Davide Tiberti, the London Lionhearts Women’s coach, to hear his inspiring journey through volleyball — from growing up in Italy to leaving his mark on the English game.

Davide’s story begins as a junior in a Serie A club academy in Italy, where he developed his game alongside his brothers — one of whom went on to play professionally for the Italian National Team. Volleyball was in his blood, but when Davide moved to the UK for university, the game slipped away, and for a time, he thought that chapter of his life had closed.

It wasn’t until his late twenties that volleyball found him again. By chance, Davide stumbled across the Lionhearts club in London, and his passion was reignited. Soon after, he stepped up to play libero in the Super League with Lynx, an experience that shaped his understanding of the position. In this episode, he shares valuable tips and insights into the mindset of a great libero — from concentration to consistency and the discipline required to perform at the highest level.

But Davide’s journey didn’t stop on the court. When the opportunity arose, he took over coaching duties for Lynx, before moving on to lead the Lionhearts Women. Over the past four years, he has overseen an incredible rise: taking the team from Division 1, surviving that tough first season in the Super League, and building year on year to achieve an outstanding 4th-place finish last season. Davide opens up about how he achieved this — from his methodical approach to preparation, to instilling mindset and focus in his players, and creating an environment where the team could grow and compete at the highest level.

Now, as Davide steps down after his successful tenure, we also discuss what’s next for the Lionhearts under new leadership, and the legacy he leaves behind.

This is a conversation full of lessons on mindset, perseverance, and leadership — one that every player, coach, and club manager will take something from.

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Welcome back to The Heritage Show! After a well-deserved summer break, we’re recharged and ready to dive into another incredible season celebrating the people who’ve shaped volleyball in the UK.

In this episode, I sit down with true volleyball legend Freda Bussey, MBE – a powerhouse who’s been growing the game for over 40 years.

We explore Freda’s journey from her early playing days representing England on the world stage, to her time as a PE teacher at Ashcombe School, where she began coaching and eventually playing for the very team she led. We talk about the unique role of the player-coach, her long-standing work as a coach tutor for Volleyball England, and her passion for supporting new coaches.

Freda is the founding force behind Ashcombe Volleyball Club, established in 1976 – a club that’s still going strong today. She shares her wisdom on running a successful club, the commercial mindset it takes, and how the iconic Ashcombe Grass Tournament helped fund national league success and title-winning teams.

Still deeply involved in the sport, you’ll now find Freda refereeing at the University of Sussex with her husband, and continuing to make an impact through her roles in the Sussex and South East Volleyball Associations.

Awarded an MBE in 2013 for her services to volleyball, Freda is the definition of a doer – someone who simply gets things done and makes things happen.

A brilliant conversation with a true volleyball icon.
Let’s get into it.

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In this special edition of That Volleyball Guy, I’m joining in with UK Coaching Week to reflect on the Pass It On theme and what better time to do that than after being named Volleyball England’s Coach of the Year.

In this episode, I open up about my journey as a coach: how my mindset and approach have evolved over the years, the power of building connection with players, and the importance of staying grounded in purpose, not just performance. I share the key lessons I’ve learned through experience, mistakes, and growth and why I believe in always passing those lessons on.

I also talk about our team’s incredible journey celebrating our second successive promotion, rising from Division 2 to Division 1, and what it took behind the scenes to make that happen. From building belief to fostering resilience and consistency, I reflect on how our collective mindset helped us take that next step.

Whether you’re just starting your coaching journey or you’ve been at it for years, this episode is about sharing knowledge, celebrating progress, and paying it forward. Coaching is about more than just the game — it’s about people, growth, and leaving something behind that matters.

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Hey everyone, welcome back to another special edition of That Volleyball Guy – The Heritage Show – the series where we celebrate the rich history of volleyball and shine a light on the incredible people who’ve shaped our sport. This series is proudly produced in partnership with Volleyball England.

This week is a big one – we’re marking 70 years since the very first meeting of the Amateur Volleyball Association of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, which took place on 28th May 1955. That meeting laid the foundation for what we now know as Volleyball England, and it’s only right that we celebrate it in style.

So to help us do just that, I’m thrilled to be joined by someone who has played a major role in our sport’s history – Brian Stalker.

Brian is a former international referee, and during our chat, he shares some fascinating stories and insights from his time officiating at the highest level of the game. We talk about what it takes to be a great referee – the mindset, the qualities, and the challenges that come with the role. Brian also reflects on how the sport has evolved over the years, both on and off the court.

And if that’s not enough, he takes us behind the scenes of his involvement in the London 2012 Olympic Games, and his ongoing contributions to the sport through roles within the FIVB and beyond.

It was a genuinely insightful conversation – one that left me wishing we had even more time to dig into his experiences. If you love volleyball, if you're fascinated by the game's journey in England, or if you're just curious about what goes into refereeing at the highest level, this is one you don’t want to miss.

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In this episode of That Volleyball Guy Dig Deeper I’m joined by Chloe Allen, captain of the Malory Eagles Women’s team, who has just led her side to an unforgettable season, winning both the Super League and the National Cup. It’s been a long time since Malory were at the top, and Chloe gives us an inside look at how this team came together, grew in confidence, and found their winning edge.

Chloe takes us right back to her early volleyball roots, sharing how she first picked up the game playing in the garden with her sister, then fell in love with it properly during high school in California. She reflects on the impact her high school coach had on her game, mindset, and leadership style ,lessons that have stayed with her through every step of her journey.

She then talks us through her college years at the University of California Santa Barbara, where she spent four seasons competing at a high level, learning about herself both as an athlete and a person. After graduating, she moved across the world to London in September 2020 to pursue a master's degree at the University of East London, only to be met with lockdowns and COVID restrictions. Despite the challenges, Chloe eventually found her way into the heart of the UK volleyball scene, joining Malory Eagles and becoming a key figure in their return to greatness.

We dig into what it’s like playing in the Super League, what sets Malory apart as a club, and how coaches Jefferson Williams and Carol Gordon have built such a strong, supportive, and driven team culture. Chloe speaks openly about the journey to winning the double, the hard work behind the scenes, and what it means to be part of something bigger than yourself.

For anyone thinking about stepping into a captaincy role, Chloe also shares her top tips on leadership from building trust and unity to navigating tough moments and motivating others. Her experience and wisdom make this a brilliant listen for aspiring leaders, coaches, and teammates alike.

We round things off with Chloe’s thoughts on what’s next for her, how she sees volleyball evolving in England, and a fun final round of This or That to finish.

This is a great conversation about commitment, culture, and character — and one you won’t want to miss

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This week on That Volleyball Guy, it's a Cup Finals Weekend special.
I'm joined by my fellow Volleyball England commentators Michael Hanson-Morris and Jess Smith as we recap an epic two days of volleyball action at the National Volleyball Centre in Kettering.

Across 11 matches, 38 sets of volleyball, and one unforgettable reverse sweep, we cover it all — from the Cup, Shield, Sitting, and Junior competitions. It was a true showcase of English volleyball, with fantastic crowds, outstanding performances, and a brilliant atmosphere throughout the weekend.

We deep dive into every match, sharing our thoughts and insights from the commentary booth, highlighting match MVPs, key stats, and some behind-the-scenes reflections. We also celebrate the winners of the Volleyball England annual awards — including my own unexpected honour of being named Coach of the Year — and mark the special moment of Ian Legrand’s induction into the Volleyball England Hall of Fame.

A huge thank you to the officials, volunteers, and the Volleyball England team who made the event possible.

We originally set out to record a 30-minute episode... but when you get three passionate voices together, it naturally turned into a full hour of conversation about the sport we love. We hope you enjoy it! If you couldn’t be there in person, you can catch all the matches — and hear our commentary — on the Volleyball England YouTube channel.

That's a wrap for the indoor season. There's plenty of exciting beach volleyball action to come over the summer, and we already can't wait for another fantastic indoor season next year.

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This is Part Two of The Heritage Show, a special episode of That Volleyball Guy created in partnership with Volleyball England to honour the people, places, and pivotal moments that have shaped the sport in this country.

In this second half of our conversation, I’m once again joined by Volleyball England legend Richard Callicott, picking up from where we left off in Part One.

Richard shares his powerful reflections on being part of London 2012, the impact of the Olympic experience, and the legacy it left behind — not just for volleyball, but for British sport as a whole.

We speak openly about the ongoing funding challenges volleyball faces and the uphill battles that continue behind the scenes to grow and sustain the sport.

Richard also talks about his instrumental role in bringing beach volleyball to the Commonwealth Games, a major achievement that put the sport on a new international stage.

We revisit the historic Sandwell Grass Tournament, which at its height welcomed a record-breaking 420 teams, earning a Guinness World Record and becoming one of the most iconic events in UK volleyball history.

To round things off, Richard shares his thoughts on where the sport is today and his hopes for the future of volleyball in England.

It’s a conversation full of insight, honesty and passion from someone who’s had a lasting impact on the game. I could have talked to Richard for hours — and even then, there’s still more we didn’t cover.

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