Club History

History of The Ashcombe Volleyball Club

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Category: Club History

Published on Friday, 29 October 2010 09:58

Written by Freda Bussey

Founded at The Ashcombe School, Dorking by P.E. Teacher Freda Bussey in 1976, The Ashcombe school team started playing in the London league as there was no Surrey League. After taking the London league title at their first attempt in 1978 Ashcombe entered National League Division 2 and won promotion to Division 1 the following year. The Surrey league was founded in 1978 by Peter Ireland and Freda Bussey.

The Ashcombe outdoor summer Tournament was started in 1977 as a fund raising venture to support all the play for the junior players and is now one of the biggest volleyball events in the country.

Some of the original players from the 1970's are still playing or volunteering for Ashcombe VC, including Deb Frost [Chitty] -Chairman, Michelle Nudds [Haynes] , Soggy Hare [Tyler] , Ann Thurgood [Chambers].

From 1980 to 2004 Ashcombe held a top 4 place in Womens National League Division 1 winning the cup and league on several occasions. In 2000 Ashcombe won the English Cup and League double and are now rebuilding with many locally developed players and reaching for top places in the future.

After Freda Bussey moved to Worthing in 1987 a new chapter of the club began. She started Durrington Volleyball club as a teacher at Durrington High School in 1990.  Durrington Volleyball has been the main junior development centre for Ashcombe VC with five of the current 1st team coming from the school.

The club boasts 4 Level 3 coaches: Freda Bussey, Luke Thomas, Matthew Neilson and Julie Garrard, with Freda Bussey and Luke Thomas both having the FIVB Level 2 Award. Teams in the Womens Super 8's, National League Division 3E, Sussex League and National age group teams for both boys and girls in age from Under 14 to Under 18 compettions.

In 2008 Ashcombe won the Under 16 girls National title and the Under 18 womens team were 2nd with both the Under 15 girls and Under 18 boys teams reaching the National semi-finals.

In 2010 Ashcombe won the Under 18 Girls National title and the Under 16 girls team were losing semi-finalists. Ashcombe 1 was placed 6th in NVL Division 1 and gained a place in the newly created Super 8 competition.