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In this Heritage Show episode, we celebrate the remarkable legacy of Gordon Neale OBE — a true giant of British volleyball and a pioneer of inclusive sport.

Gordon shares how his journey began in the Army, playing volleyball over a net strung between two cars in Greece. From there, he went on to play in London and the National League in Essex before establishing a formal volleyball programme for the Army. He reflects on the challenges he faced embedding the sport into military life and how it developed over time.

We then explore Gordon’s incredible role in bringing sitting volleyball to the UK, sparked by a magazine article that led him to support individuals who wanted to play. A passionate advocate for inclusive sport, Gordon discusses the early barriers he faced, the vital support of the national governing body, and the pride of taking teams to international competitions — including a memorable trip to Las Vegas.

Gordon also shares insights from his time as a sitting volleyball referee, including officiating at two Paralympic Games, as well as his leadership roles across Volleyball England, the British Volleyball Federation, and World ParaVolley.

Celebrating 50 years in the sport, Gordon reflects on receiving his OBE, multiple Hall of Fame inductions, and a lifetime of service to volleyball.

An inspiring conversation with a man who has given so much to the game — you won’t want to miss this one!

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Digging Deeper | In partnership with Volleyball England

In this episode, I’m joined by Davide Tiberti, the London Lionhearts Women’s coach, to hear his inspiring journey through volleyball — from growing up in Italy to leaving his mark on the English game.

Davide’s story begins as a junior in a Serie A club academy in Italy, where he developed his game alongside his brothers — one of whom went on to play professionally for the Italian National Team. Volleyball was in his blood, but when Davide moved to the UK for university, the game slipped away, and for a time, he thought that chapter of his life had closed.

It wasn’t until his late twenties that volleyball found him again. By chance, Davide stumbled across the Lionhearts club in London, and his passion was reignited. Soon after, he stepped up to play libero in the Super League with Lynx, an experience that shaped his understanding of the position. In this episode, he shares valuable tips and insights into the mindset of a great libero — from concentration to consistency and the discipline required to perform at the highest level.

But Davide’s journey didn’t stop on the court. When the opportunity arose, he took over coaching duties for Lynx, before moving on to lead the Lionhearts Women. Over the past four years, he has overseen an incredible rise: taking the team from Division 1, surviving that tough first season in the Super League, and building year on year to achieve an outstanding 4th-place finish last season. Davide opens up about how he achieved this — from his methodical approach to preparation, to instilling mindset and focus in his players, and creating an environment where the team could grow and compete at the highest level.

Now, as Davide steps down after his successful tenure, we also discuss what’s next for the Lionhearts under new leadership, and the legacy he leaves behind.

This is a conversation full of lessons on mindset, perseverance, and leadership — one that every player, coach, and club manager will take something from.

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Welcome back to The Heritage Show! After a well-deserved summer break, we’re recharged and ready to dive into another incredible season celebrating the people who’ve shaped volleyball in the UK.

In this episode, I sit down with true volleyball legend Freda Bussey, MBE – a powerhouse who’s been growing the game for over 40 years.

We explore Freda’s journey from her early playing days representing England on the world stage, to her time as a PE teacher at Ashcombe School, where she began coaching and eventually playing for the very team she led. We talk about the unique role of the player-coach, her long-standing work as a coach tutor for Volleyball England, and her passion for supporting new coaches.

Freda is the founding force behind Ashcombe Volleyball Club, established in 1976 – a club that’s still going strong today. She shares her wisdom on running a successful club, the commercial mindset it takes, and how the iconic Ashcombe Grass Tournament helped fund national league success and title-winning teams.

Still deeply involved in the sport, you’ll now find Freda refereeing at the University of Sussex with her husband, and continuing to make an impact through her roles in the Sussex and South East Volleyball Associations.

Awarded an MBE in 2013 for her services to volleyball, Freda is the definition of a doer – someone who simply gets things done and makes things happen.

A brilliant conversation with a true volleyball icon.
Let’s get into it.

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