England call-up for New Forest volleyball duo

NEW Forest Volleyball Club players Tara King and Archie Golding have been selected for their respective England Junior squads.

Having attended trials at the National Volleyball Centre in Kettering, both players were informed of their selection for the England Talent Pathway programme by Volleyball England in early January and will now take part in a series of training camps building towards international matches later in the year.

Tara, 15, who plays for New Forest at junior and senior level, has been selected for the England U17 girl’s squad.

In a busy year of volleyball, Tara has competed for New Forest in the National League, south-east England U17 team at the inter-regional finals and also for the Wessex team based in Bournemouth in the U16 and U18 national cups.

Tara only started playing volleyball in 2016 at Priestlands School when PE teacher Matt Caplen suggested she join the New Forest Club.

Training with New Forest under the guidance of coaches James Kemp, Lauryn Ankers and Simon Golding, Tara has worked hard to develop into an impressive attacking player with good all-around skills and an excellent serve.

At 6ft tall, she has proved to be an effective points scorer against even the most experienced opponents this season.

Sixteen-year-old Archie Golding, a Highcliffe School pupil, has been playing volleyball with New Forest since 2015.

At 6ft 7in tall, he catches the eye of most coaches, but his co-ordination, mobility and an impressive jump led to his selection for the U19 England squad. Archie has worked with coaches Toby Goodman, Joe Waterman and his Dad Simon Golding, a former National League player, now Academy Director at New Forest.

In the last year his skill level, physical strength and understanding for the game means that Archie is now a regular in the New Forest men’s first team playing volleyball in Division Two of the National League and also competing for the south-east regional squad and Wessex U18 team in the National Cup.

Archie’s versatile skill-set means that he can play in a variety of positions, which has attracted the attention of several Super League clubs in the top division of English volleyball.

Tara and Archie follow an impressive list of players that have progressed into the England National squads, under the guidance and hard work of club president James Kemp and former academy director Clayton Lucas.

Theo and Ben Lucas, Lauryn Ankers, Megan Grinyer, George Longmore, Ben Osborne and Josh Green have all been part of the international set-up. Ben Lucas has gone on to represent England senior men in the Novotel Cup this year.

For more information about New Forest Volleyball Club, email newforestvolleyball@gmail.com