Goodbye to the NVC - memories of a place to call 'home'

The Northamptonshire venue was opened by Cllr James Hakewill, the leader of Kettering Borough Council, and Maria Bertelli, who went on to captain GB Volleyball at the London 2012 Olympics and is now head Coach at Darkstar Derbyshire. 

There have international events, star appearances, national indoor and beach training camps, coaching courses, HEVO Conferences, referee development sessions, Sitting Grand Prix and Junior Grand Prix rounds, Last 8s, Cup Finals, Super League Opening Weekend and Final 4, Inter Regionals and much more... servicing all demographics of the sport across its three iterations of indoor, sitting and beach. 

There have been highs and lows – and even the unique interruption of the Covid-19 Pandemic – but throughout the last decade-and-a-half there has remained a collective passion and desire to drive the sport forward. 

This weekend just gone, Friday 29th August to Sunday 31st August, saw an England Talent camp bring down the final curtain on Volleyball England’s time as a tenant in Kettering. 

As such, a number of members from the Volleyball England community have been asked to share their favourite memories from the Northamptonshire venue.   

It was, of course, impossible to get the thoughts of everyone who has had an involvement there as player, coach, statistician, referee, scorer, official, administrator, volunteer, supporter or Hub staff member, but here are a few people from volleyball’s communities who did share their memories. 

If you wish to add your own memories for consideration, please email to communications@volleyballengland.org 

Once again, Volleyball England would like to extend its grateful thanks to the staff at Kettering, both past and present, for their unbridled support during the NVC era.  

Rob Richardson – GB Sitting Volleyball first player to 100 caps 

"The NVC in Kettering has played a huge part in the Sitting Volleyball landscape. 

“It has hosted our National Championships and monthly Grand Prix series, which has created the most incredible community for Sitting Volleyball and turned into lasting friendships and much more. 

"It has also played host to GB training camps, from recruitment days in 2009 through to Paralympic preparations and to the very end in hosting training camps for both men's and women's squads. 

“A highlight for me was when the NVC hosted the Continental Cup in 2011. This was particularly influential as it was a breakout tournament for GB Sitting Volleyball as they broke into the top 10 in the world with a demolition job on the USA.” 

Zakk Hadgett – Recently-retired England captain, who has played professionally overseas 

“My favourite memory would have to be winning the Carol Russell Trophy against Scotland in my final England game in January. 

“We hadn’t always got the better of them in the past, so to win that one was special, especially as we also won the Sir Don Anthony Trophy in tandem with our women’s teams as the best performing nation overall.” 

Jonathan Moore – Former Hub Staff Member, who worked in various roles as part of the events team for much of Volleyball England’s time at the NVC 

“A great moment for me was an image captured by Mark Pritchard from the NEVZA U19 tournament in 2016 with the VE Event Staff at the time, stood on the balcony with the Hall of Fame in the background. From left to right is myself, Sanjib Sahota, Laurence Shenker, Will Westwood and Daniel Thompson.   

“The NVC in Kettering has provided a platform for many events to start and grow. It is a unique space where all three disciplines of the sport could develop. 

“It had been the right venue for Volleyball England for more than a decade. The NVC Kettering was one of the most flexible Volleyball event spaces in the country, which will be hard to match elsewhere without building something bespoke. 

“It was just a shame that despite all of the partnerships that there have been around the NVC Kettering, a club never really prospered, while the plans to build a hotel on the site never got off the ground.   

“The NVC has been a fantastic part of Volleyball England’s journey and Matt Green, Indy Mann and the rest of the staff there deserve great credit for helping the sport move forward over the past 16 years.”    

Iwona Grabon – England Talent Coach and Team Manager

“I will never forget the time that Brazilian superstar Giba turned up at one of our junior training campos at the NVC. Those of us who have been in the sport for a while and seen him develop in the Brazilian team to become a legend were in awe. 

“To have someone of his standing come along to support at our event was incredible and I remember him being brilliant with all the players. 

“He had come over to London for a visit and Luis Bello (now Performance Beach Coach, but then also coaching indoor) knew one of the Brazilian staff and arranged it with them. 

“When you go along to a session like that, you aren’t expecting someone like that to ever be there, so it was pretty special to be a part of.” 

Georgia McGovern – England player and Malory Eagles double winner in 2024-25 

“I remember going to Kettering almost one weekend a month from the age of 13 for Cadets and Junior England camps. We would eat all our meals there and I remember the whole team would get excited if it was spag bol!  

“Kettering also hosted the U18 Last 8 finals in 2020, in which I injured my knee severely. It was then amazing to return to Kettering for the first time five years later after college in the US, and with a fully recovered knee, and win Cup Final MVP with Malory.” 

Carol Gordon – England’s Interim Senior Women’s Coach  

“Kettering for me is a mix of so many things. It’s cadet training, coaching courses –  I did my FIVB level  3 course there – Cup finals and NEVZA.....a kaleidoscope of opportunities and memories. 

“Having a recognised centre with all our equipment in one place always meant we could just concentrate on the volleyball. I celebrated my 50th Birthday at a Cadet training camp at the NVC, cake and all, and I always had a long list of catch-ups when scouting at Inter Regionals. 

“An enduring memory is feeling proud seeing all the youngsters on all the four courts working hard to represent England, as well as seeing children of the people I have coached taking to the court. 

“Above all, it was a place we could call home.” 

Watch out later today for the 16-year timeline of Volleyball England’s time in Kettering. 

As of September, Loughborough University will be the new home of Volleyball England’s indoor operations. Click here to find out more.