Suzy devotes time for love of coaching

SUZY CHAPMAN: gearing up for her first full season as coach of Northern Thunder.

FRESH from winning the coach of the year award at the National Netball Goalden Globes, Northern Thunder’s Suzy Chapman is already contemplating her biggest challenge yet.

The 29-year-old, who works for Oldham Council’s Integrated Youth Study Service, volunteers her time to the Thunder cause and is facing her first full season as head coach.

Popular Mike Greenwood, who ran team affairs, has stepped down from the role due to ill health.

Chapman — who has been nominated for a Pride in Oldham award in the sports volunteer category — is focused on dedicating her time and energy to mount a bid for top honours in the FIAT Superleague in January.

She said: “We are looking at a few different options so it may be that some assistance comes my way. The head coach role is really a full-time job, and because I already work full-time for the youth study service, it is going to be a case of spinning plates.

“However, I absolutely love coaching netball and I will embrace the challenge, especially because we are capable of having a fantastic season.”

Chapman, from Saddleworth, admitted her Goalden Globes success at a glittering ceremony in Leicester is still sinking in.

She added: “I don’t think it has fully registered yet. When we got down there I scanned the list of nominees in my category and recognised most of them due to the great work they do, so I genuinely didn’t expect to win.

“When I heard my name being announced it was a wonderful feeling. I think my mum, Debbie, was even more overwhelmed than me, though!

“I am proud that my volunteer work has been recognised and appreciated.”

Juggling her commitments has become second nature to Chapman.

She delivers regular netball courses for young people, has successfully established clubs in Saddleworth and Hathershaw, and this week celebrated the acquisition of a teaching qualification from Oldham University campus.

And in the eyes of Hulme Grammar pupils she certainly made the grade after teaching them shooting techniques, training practices and tactics.

“I just love what I do. I have been passionate about sport since I was five-years-old which I suppose was inevitable seeing as my sister Tiffany played a lot, my mum became a community coach and my dad, Les, was a professional footballer and is now kit manager at Manchester City.”