This is Essex --
CHELMSFORD volleyball star Tom Ketley plans to announce his arrival on the European stage sooner rather than later, but is looking closer to home to start his journey.
The 18-year-old tasted success on the court in April 2013 when he won the U18s National Cup with the Boswells School and is hoping this is just the start of a trophy-laden career.
Ketley is currently part of the England U19s squad and hopes to play professionally in Europe when he finishes at Northumbria University.
But before this Ketley is eyeing up involvement in European qualifying matches in January at the National Volleyball Centre in Kettering, this marking the first time that England will play as a nation on home soil, having played all of their games on the continent.
However before he can turn his attentions to the international arena, Ketley knows it will be just as difficult to break into the Northumbria team first of all.
"We have a few selection camps over Christmas for England U19s and that is going to be a good competition for places," he said.
"But there's massive competition for places in the squad up at university too. I would say that Northumbria is probably the best university for volleyball in the country.
"I have a friend whose brother played professionally in France, Spain and Germany, and they are good-quality leagues. They're not too far out of reach for me.
"A lot of players here see this as a stepping stone before going professional and I am the same."
Ketley is helped away from the court as part of the Lloyds Bank Local Heroes scheme, which funds promising athletes from all over the country.
And he insists it is not just the money that he has found beneficial as he looks to rise in the volleyball ranks.
"I went to a couple of sports days and helped with some coaching and getting people involved in volleyball," he added.
"It was nice talking to children and them looking up to you and asking how you've done. There definitely needs to be more coaches and more awareness about volleyball.
"After the Olympics the funding for volleyball was cut, which is one of the problems with getting people involved.
"There's a vicious cycle where if you don't do well at the Olympics you don't get the funding and that keeps going."
Lloyds Bank Local Heroes, in partnership with Sports Aid, has supported 1000 of Britain's most talented developing athletes.
As part of Lloyds Bank's commitment to helping future sports starts prosper, the programme has continued in 2013. Follow future stars at www.lloydsbank.com/localheroes Reported by This is 12 hours ago.
CHELMSFORD volleyball star Tom Ketley plans to announce his arrival on the European stage sooner rather than later, but is looking closer to home to start his journey.
The 18-year-old tasted success on the court in April 2013 when he won the U18s National Cup with the Boswells School and is hoping this is just the start of a trophy-laden career.
Ketley is currently part of the England U19s squad and hopes to play professionally in Europe when he finishes at Northumbria University.
But before this Ketley is eyeing up involvement in European qualifying matches in January at the National Volleyball Centre in Kettering, this marking the first time that England will play as a nation on home soil, having played all of their games on the continent.
However before he can turn his attentions to the international arena, Ketley knows it will be just as difficult to break into the Northumbria team first of all.
"We have a few selection camps over Christmas for England U19s and that is going to be a good competition for places," he said.
"But there's massive competition for places in the squad up at university too. I would say that Northumbria is probably the best university for volleyball in the country.
"I have a friend whose brother played professionally in France, Spain and Germany, and they are good-quality leagues. They're not too far out of reach for me.
"A lot of players here see this as a stepping stone before going professional and I am the same."
Ketley is helped away from the court as part of the Lloyds Bank Local Heroes scheme, which funds promising athletes from all over the country.
And he insists it is not just the money that he has found beneficial as he looks to rise in the volleyball ranks.
"I went to a couple of sports days and helped with some coaching and getting people involved in volleyball," he added.
"It was nice talking to children and them looking up to you and asking how you've done. There definitely needs to be more coaches and more awareness about volleyball.
"After the Olympics the funding for volleyball was cut, which is one of the problems with getting people involved.
"There's a vicious cycle where if you don't do well at the Olympics you don't get the funding and that keeps going."
Lloyds Bank Local Heroes, in partnership with Sports Aid, has supported 1000 of Britain's most talented developing athletes.
As part of Lloyds Bank's commitment to helping future sports starts prosper, the programme has continued in 2013. Follow future stars at www.lloydsbank.com/localheroes Reported by This is 12 hours ago.
