Rovers Net Volleyball Title

Volleyball enthusiasts from St. Bede’s High School in Blackburn dominated proceedings at the 2011 North West Volleyball Tournament in Manchester. Six boys teams from the school, made up of three Under-14s and three Under-16s, represented Blackburn Rovers Community Trust in the Premier League 4 Sport (PL4S) competition. Despite stiff competition from Manchester United, Bolton, Wigan, Everton and Manchester City, as well as special guests Newcastle and Middlesbrough, there was an all-Rovers final to decide who would lift the Under-14 title.

St Bede’s C team clinched the trophy after beating St Bede’s A, with the prize being presented by Manchester United mascot Fred the Red.

Rovers also reached the final of the Under-16 event after winning all their group games, but unfortunately were beaten by the narrowest of margins, 21-20, by Wigan Athletic.

Claire Newton, PL4S coordinator at Blackburn Rovers Community Trust, said: “It was a fantastic event, which was very well organised, and with some outstanding volleyball played. Over the last few months, the boys have been training hard under the watchful eye of coach Dave Pilkington and for some, it was their first time playing competitive volleyball. In two years of the project, the standard of volleyball amongst the Premier League clubs has improved dramatically and more young people within the Borough of Blackburn with Darwen are now playing the sport.”

The next volleyball tournament will see the Under-16 boys try to retain their National PL4S Cup when they travel to the Midlands in July. All 20 Premier League clubs will be participating.

Premier League 4 Sport is a groundbreaking £3.8m partnership with the Government, which aims to offer thousands of young people the chance to get involved in volleyball, table-tennis, badminton and judo ahead of the 2012 Olympics.