Volleyball is thriving in Stroud (From Stroud News and Journal)

Volleyball is thriving in Stroud

SINCE moving to Stratford Park Leisure Centre at the beginning of June, Stroud Volleyball Club are thriving in their new surroundings and the future of the club looks very promising.

The club now has more than 40 members who train and play in competitive matches and is now known to be the biggest in the county.

Michael Zodiates is the youngest player at 13-years-old and the oldest member is in his fifties. Age is not an issue in this sport and neither is your nationality.

The range is so diverse that the club must be one of the most cosmopolitan in the area.

There are many different nationalities at the club and the wide range include players who are Polish, African, Danish, Tasmanian, German and Turkish.

According to Tania Chomitz, who is the club's secretary and fixture secretary, everybody is welcome to play, she said: "Everybody can come and have a go at playing volleyball.

When we took a net to play on the outdoor court at South Cerney recently many people were asking if they could join in and it was no problem for them to join in.

'That is one of the club's main objectives. We want anyone to just come along and join in."

Even though the club has a great spirit there is also a competitive feeling within the teams.

The club now has four competitive teams which all play at league status.

The men's first team last year won promoted to the English Volleyball association South West division and will face the likes of Plymouth, Bath and Bristol.

Ambition and drive are also a main part of the club because the men's first team are now aiming to move forward and get promotion into the National League.

There are also two men's teams that the women players can also be selected for, and also a ladies team.

The club had been based at Archway School for many years but at the beginning of June this year they moved to Stratford Park leisure centre.

Tania said: "Everybody was comfortable at Archway but we felt that the move would enable the club to expand and move forward.

"When we first started we only had one volleyball and but now the club have got 27 balls, four match balls and an outdoor net."

Training is on Wednesday evenings at Stratford Park leisure centre from 8pm to 10pm and matches are played on Sundays.