40 | FAMOUS ALUMNI
A product of Millfi eld’s outstanding sports coaching, England’s netball captain has already led the side to a historic series win against the sport’s giants, Australia
〉
Pamela Cookey started playing netball with TeamBath while still at Millfi eld School in Somerset, and was a surprise inclusion in the England national netball team at age 17. She made her senior debut with England in 2004 against Australia, and two years later won a bronze medal with the England team at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. She won a second Commonwealth Games bronze medal in 2010. Away from the netball court, Pamela is Business Development Manager for the West of England Sport Trust.
What are your memories of the sports coaching at Millfi eld – personalities, techniques, memorable matches? My time at Millfi eld was fun yet also challenging. Teachers and coaches were always trying to get the best out of us and urging us to reach our true potential, whether in the classroom or on the courts. No one game sticks in my mind, but I do remember the great team spirit and the numerous wins we added to our belts!
Which staff members linger in the memory? I remember Mr Johnson our head
T: @ie_today | W:
ie-today.co.uk
PAMELA COOKEY
teacher well: no matter what the sport, he was always there to support. And Mrs Woods, head of girls’ games, with her maxim, ‘Nothing is ever unachievable’. At Millfi eld I was able to be a student and an international sports athlete, interact with people from all nationalities and backgrounds, and develop as a young lady.
What did your time at the school gave you, in terms of your development as an athlete? The facilities and coaching staff were top-class and there was a general sense of striving for, and achieving success. There were four netball courts, and in every direction there was a sports ground, or a golf putting green, or hockey pitches, rugby pitches, 50m swimming pool, riding centre, tennis centre... the list goes on and on. Each one of these was a world-class facility. Everyone wanted to do their best, whatever the discipline.
What are your memories of school life beyond the sports fi eld? I was a boarder and Millfi eld was my fi rst real time away from home, so I learned a lot about myself. I hung out with a sporty crowd, although I also had a fair few ‘cool friends. My house parents were there if needed, but I was allowed to fi nd my own way. What’s more, playing for Bath and
England, I was away most weekends at matches or training.
What has been your own sporting highlight thus far, and why? Captaining the side that managed a 3-0 series win against Australia last year. It was the fi rst time an England netball team had won a series over the Australians: in fact, we had only ever beaten them on two occasions. We really came together as a squad on and off court to show our true potential, and the support we got from the whole of England was immense.
What are your plans for the future? To continue to be the best I can be personally, and to bring more long-term success to England netball.
And what would success mean for you? Lots of things! Our next big challenge is next year’s World Netball Championships: success would be winning gold with the team. Personally, I am currently recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon, so success for me would mean returning stronger and fi tter than I was before. More broadly, I would like to leave a lasting legacy for future netballers and sports women. ISS
W:
www.englandnetball.co.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48