Meet our coaching team

Julie Laidler

Founder & Head Coach (Level 2 qualified)

 

Bronwyn Polley

Coach

Bronwyn has been at Richmond Ravers since 2011, first as a player then progressing to becoming a coach in 2017. Julie can’t get rid of her! She is currently studying physiotherapy at St Mary’s University, Twickenham and has a passion for caring for people. Bronwyn has a deep interest in human body movement and the physiological science behind it. As well as working towards her Level 2 netball coaching qualifications, she is also a Level 2 qualified Cricket coach.

Bronwyn has been at Richmond Ravers since 2011, first as a player then progressing to becoming a coach in 2017. Julie can’t get rid of her! She is currently studying physiotherapy at St Mary’s University, Twickenham and has a passion for caring for people. Bronwyn has a deep interest in human body movement and the physiological science behind it. As well as working towards her Level 2 netball coaching qualifications, she is also a Level 2 qualified Cricket coach.

 

Andrea (Andy) Johnson

Coach - Level 2 qualified (NZ)

Andy is orginally from New Zealand with well over 30 years of playing and several years of coaching experience. Andy played at top club level and was an age-group provincial representative in New Zealand. Andy has lived in the UK for the past 15 years and played for Cumberland Netball Club’s top team for her entire UK career (over 10 years). The team started in the North London Netball League and eventually made its way up to England Premier League 2. She has 2 daughters of her own and would love them to have the same opportunities she had growing up in New Zealand where netball is considered a national sport with an amazing profile amongst the general public.

Andy is orginally from New Zealand with well over 30 years of playing and several years of coaching experience. Andy played at top club level and was an age-group provincial representative in New Zealand. Andy has lived in the UK for the past 15 years and played for Cumberland Netball Club’s top team for her entire UK career (over 10 years). The team started in the North London Netball League and eventually made its way up to England Premier League 2. She has 2 daughters of her own and would love them to have the same opportunities she had growing up in New Zealand where netball is considered a national sport with an amazing profile amongst the general public.

Sarah Mack

Level 1 qualified

Sarah has been coaching at Richmond Ravers for 3 years and recently gained her Level 1 qualification. She started her netball career playing GS at school (with a National Schools 4th place), then for Leeds City, West Yorkshire honours and took part in England U16 trials. She went on to play GA for Newcastle University 1st VII and Northern Universities, enjoying tours to Malta and Barbados. After graduating, she joined Wallsend Netball Club then Gateshead Stadium Netball Club, competing in the National Clubs league. She enjoyed more netball in the sun in Sydney, Australia, before joining Gems Netball Club in Surrey. She now enjoys social level netball and relishes passing on her knowledge to the next generation.

Sarah has been coaching at Richmond Ravers for 3 years and recently gained her Level 1 qualification. She started her netball career playing GS at school (with a National Schools 4th place), then for Leeds City, West Yorkshire honours and took part in England U16 trials. She went on to play GA for Newcastle University 1st VII and Northern Universities, enjoying tours to Malta and Barbados. After graduating, she joined Wallsend Netball Club then Gateshead Stadium Netball Club, competing in the National Clubs league. She enjoyed more netball in the sun in Sydney, Australia, before joining Gems Netball Club in Surrey. She now enjoys social level netball and relishes passing on her knowledge to the next generation.

Lewis Keeling

Head Coach (Level 2 qualified)

As a leading figure in the Men’s and Mixed netball scene since 2012, Lewis has had a significant impact in the growth and performance of men’s and mixed netball across the UK.

His career in netball began in 2012 and he hasn’t looked back since! Enjoying considerable success in indoor netball in London from 2012-2016, Lewis also played for England in the mixed team at the Indoor Netball World Cup in 2016.

Recognising the need for a pathway for men’s netball, Lewis founded Knights Netball, in 2018, which has grown to become a leading men’s netball club in the UK.

In 2022, Lewis became a member of The Thorns, the England Men’s netball team, and plays GK at international level.

In 2023, having obtained his Level 2 coaching award, Lewis has been heavily involved with junior netball coaching. Richmond Ravers were delighted to welcome him to the club as Head Coach in September 2024 and look forward to him inspiring the next generation of world-class netball players.

Jess Edwards

Coach

Jess joined Richmond Ravers in 2012 as a little Year 5, and was as tall as Julie’s leg! She played with the club until Year 11, winning the Nonsuch, ELL and Surrey tournaments. She played for the Surrey County Academy for 3 years and was able to travel England with the squad. She has been coaching for the past 2 years at Richmond Ravers and is currently working towards her Level 1 coaching qualification. She is in her final year of college and looking forward to continuing her coaching at the club.

Jess joined Richmond Ravers in 2012 as a little Year 5, and was as tall as Julie’s leg! She played with the club until Year 11, winning the Nonsuch, ELL and Surrey tournaments. She played for the Surrey County Academy for 3 years and was able to travel England with the squad. She has been coaching for the past 2 years at Richmond Ravers and is currently working towards her Level 1 coaching qualification. She is in her final year of college and looking forward to continuing her coaching at the club.

 

Tilly Bowden

Volunteer Coach

Tilly is a 15 year old student at Putney High School, currently working towards her Level 1 coaching qualification. She began her netball career in Year 3 as GS/GA and joined Richmond Ravers in Year 6. Since then, she has been part of the Surrey pathway as well as representing her school where she played in the 2020 National School Finals. Netball has always been her passion and through coaching she is so glad that she can try to help others to enjoy the sport as much as she does.

Tilly is a 15 year old student at Putney High School, currently working towards her Level 1 coaching qualification. She began her netball career in Year 3 as GS/GA and joined Richmond Ravers in Year 6. Since then, she has been part of the Surrey pathway as well as representing her school where she played in the 2020 National School Finals. Netball has always been her passion and through coaching she is so glad that she can try to help others to enjoy the sport as much as she does.

Marcia

Coach (Level 2 qualified)

Originally from Jamaica, Marcia is a long time netball player, full of passion and drive. She delivers excellent coaching both in defence and attack. Loved by us all!

Originally from Jamaica, Marcia is a long time netball player, full of passion and drive. She delivers excellent coaching both in defence and attack. Loved by us all!

 

Sinead Parker

Level 1 qualified / PT Level 3

Sinead is a fully qualified PE teacher with 8 years experience. Originally a Volleyball player, she has played at national, BUSA and London Premier League level. Sinead took up netball after university and played in a variety of mixed London social leagues while coaching teams in her secondary school. She left teaching for a corporate career and has recently come back into coaching through her daughters participation. She loves seeing girls active and participating in competitive sports.

Sinead is a fully qualified PE teacher with 8 years experience. Originally a Volleyball player, she has played at national, BUSA and London Premier League level. Sinead took up netball after university and played in a variety of mixed London social leagues while coaching teams in her secondary school. She left teaching for a corporate career and has recently come back into coaching through her daughters participation. She loves seeing girls active and participating in competitive sports.

 

Ava Weisz

Coach

Ava has been a member of Richmond Ravers for 5 years, ever since moving to the UK from Australia. She has played many tournaments and matches over the years and since progressed into becoming one of the club’s coaches. Ava has played for the Surrey Satellite Academy for several years and is currently playing for the seniors. She has been coaching at the club for the past 3 years and is currently working towards her Level 1 coaching qualification. As a passionate netballer, Ava can’t wait to continue coaching the younger girls and passing on her own knowledge and tips which she learnt herself at this very club, and which allowed her to improve immensely into the player she is today.

Ava has been a member of Richmond Ravers for 5 years, ever since moving to the UK from Australia. She has played many tournaments and matches over the years and since progressed into becoming one of the club’s coaches. Ava has played for the Surrey Satellite Academy for several years and is currently playing for the seniors. She has been coaching at the club for the past 3 years and is currently working towards her Level 1 coaching qualification. As a passionate netballer, Ava can’t wait to continue coaching the younger girls and passing on her own knowledge and tips which she learnt herself at this very club, and which allowed her to improve immensely into the player she is today.