St Swithun’s Junior School deputy head teacher Roger Marshall travelled to South Africa on 19th May to represent England at the Indoor Netball World Championships in Johannesburg. Indoor netball welcomes men playing in ‘men only’ or ‘mixed’ teams and Roger has gained a place in the England mixed team through trials earlier in the year.
Roger teaches netball at St Swithun’s Junior School but also set up and coaches the local Winchester Squall netball team, which incorporates players from many local schools in the area. Squall recently won Junior Team of the Year in the Winchester and District Sports Awards 2013 U12 and are the U13 Hampshire Junior League Champions.
Roger said “At the grand old age of 41 I had thought my chance to represent my country on a big stage such as this had gone, but am over the moon to have been selected and to have one last stab at playing sport at international level”.
Roger’s training and build up to the event can be followed through his website: http://marshal48.wix.com/roger-marshall-eng.
Roger needs to raise his own funding to participate in the event and is looking for any sponsorship which may help. Donations can be made through his fundraising website http://www.gofundme.com/roger-marshall-england