The Heritage Show: 50 Years of Wessex - Building a Volleyball Legacy with Geoff Allen

Any feedback? Send me a message In this episode of The Heritage Show, we sit down with Geoff Allen to explore almost 60 years of playing, coaching, developing and leading within English volleyball.Geoff began coaching at just 17 years old before founding Wessex Volleyball Club in 1976. Fifty years later, the club is still going strong, having supported thousands of players and developed more than 100 athletes who went on to represent England or Great Britain.An FIVB Level 3 coach, Geoff has worked across almost every level of the game, from mini-volleyball and junior development to National League, regional and England programmes. He also spent 39 years as a Volleyball England Staff Coach tutor and later served the organisation as a Director, President and Chairman.Geoff reflects on building Wessex alongside his wife, Lynn, the challenges of sustaining a successful club, developing players and coaches, and creating something that can continue beyond its founders.We also explore who holds responsibility for growing volleyball in England, what the sport still needs to do better, the biggest lessons Geoff has learned, and what volleyball has given him in return.A conversation about coaching, commitment, community and an extraordinary volleyball legacy.Support the showConnecting Through Conversation