Netball coach Joyce Smailes honoured for service

A netball player who has coached youngsters, trained umpires and founded a youth league has been honoured for 40 years of commitment to the sport.

Retired teacher Joyce Smailes, aged 69, has been presented with a long service award by England Netball Association.

Over the years, she has set up the Dudley Netball League and has taught children and teenagers in the Black Country and South Staffordshire.

Her love of netball began when she was a pupil at Hill Top School in West Bromwich.

She went on to play for the South Staffordshire county sides.

"It is a challenging but very enjoyable game. I loved being part of a team and the feeling we got when we won a game. There is a real sense of achievement," she said.

In 1970, Mrs Smailes, of Corbyn Road, Russells Hall, Dudley, formed the Grasshoppers Netball Club, in Dudley, starting with one team and growing to three senior sides.

Three years later, she went on to form the Dudley Netball League and has held many positions including chairman and vice-chairman. She was made a honorary life member in 2004.

Between 1981 and 86 she coached at schools in Shropshire at junior and senior level and also organised umpiring courses.

In the later 80s, she was team manager for the England Netball Centre of Excellence based in Coventry.

In 1995, she was invited to play hostess to St Vincent & the Grenadines at the IFNA World Games at Birmingham's National Indoor Arena. The competition ran for three weeks and

Mrs Smailes said it was an "enjoyable experience I was proud to be a part of."

From 1998 to 2005, she coached South Staffordshire Country under-14s and under-18s sides. Since 2006, she has helped with administration for regional league matches held at the University of Wolverhampton Walsall Campus.

Mrs Smailes was invited to receive her award at a bash organised by England Netball in Leicester.

Mrs Smailes said she was "over the moon" to have been recognised. "I am really pleased. I have done a lot over the years, I didn't realise quite how much until I was nominated."