September 2004
Ed: moved from Aquila
Tom: coaching role
Tom Spijkers has moved to coach the 2nd team, taking Phil Hudson and Matthew Howe with him.
Alex Radu has returned home and Andy Lynn has moved to his home club Cambridge who make their 1st Division debut this year.
We are sorry to see Marinella leave the club - she is returning back to Sardinia after completing her PhD. She has been with Riga since the late 1990s and will be sorely missed - on & off court. Apparently the image of her dinosaur impression down in Tonbridge will stay with the team forever!!!
Rachael and Liz are back training and are hoping to stay fit for the coming season. Rachael's awaiting knee surgery but is hoping her fitness will hold up. Liz returns after having her knee op last November so giving the team the luxury of having two setters.
Arriving at Riga are Nicky Jones & Kelly Jones
25 year old middle player Nicky, a former Loughborough Div 1 stalwart joins old team mates, Lisa and Sally. Asides from her hitting abilities, Nicky's back court is pretty impressive and will add significant strength to the Riga receiving line up.
Formerly of 2nd division Mavericks. 23 year old Kelly has decided to take the plunge to further her own development as a player, even though it means a 4 hour round trip to training!!
Another big loss to the club is 2nd Team Secretary Nathan Rosewell, Nathan did an awful lot of work for the club and was instrumental in the return of the 2nd team into the National Leagues. He is returning to Bristol (he used to play for Whitefield) & we wish him very well indeed.
Marinella : back to Sardinia
Nathan: returning to Bristol
December 2003
Yaprak: Turkish international
Alex: joined mens 1st team
The signing of the season and possibly the biggest coup in the history of the Riga women's team, has been the acquisition of Turkish international and ex-Istanbul professional Yaprak Rogers. The 5ft 10 outside hitter has a wealth of international experience behind her yet since her arrival in this country 3 years ago has only played 'for fun'.
The Men have also done well having gained the services of Moldavian international Alex Radu who will strengthen the side and enable Tom Young to remain permanently 'on the bench'. Alexandru played in the European Championships at Loughborough this year against England.
Ludo Bonnet has taken over the coaching of the Mens 2nd team who have responded well and are in strong contention for promotion from Division III(E).
We are sorry to see Stephanie Geoffroy leave to join Birmingham University, Steph was a big factor in the promotion of the Womens 2nd team last year and hopefully when she starts enjoying her volleyball again she will return to her real volleyball home!
To counter the loss of Steph the Ladies 2nd team have signed ex-Dulwich Tuskers player Anna Lock who will be a real benefit to the team for the remainder of the season.
Steph: left to join Birmingham
Anna: joined from Tuskers
November 2003
Lisa: new first team setter
Due to Liz Youngs injury Tom went shopping for another setter and came up with a gem : Lisa Purcell has joined us from Loughborough Students II having played previously for the U17 West Midlands Regional Team, England North Cadets and Smoke Free Birmingham in National League.
Going the other way is the second 2nd team coach of the season (is this a record?). Steve Jones has been asked to coach at Loughborough and has accepted the chance to work at the Centre of Excellence based there.
Steve: off to Lufbra
October 2003
Liz: out with knee injury
IN: Laura Hodgkinson
Leaving the Mens 1st team is Alex Medina Galan who has been offered a contract to play semi-professionally in his native Spain. He will play libero for Alicante.
Phil Wyles has been made 1st team captain - so it will be a new pair of hands picking up any trophies (presuming they win some) for the 1st team this year.
The Ladies 1st team have signed Laura Hodgkinson, an England Junior from Kings Lynn to boost the squad for the season.
Setter Liz Young looks to be facing surgery on her injured knee and may be out for most of the season but hopes to be back around February, meanwhile Tom continues a search for another setter.
The future looks bright however, Tom & Liz'z daughter Emma made her National League debut for Leicester against Newcastle Staffs and Birmingham University and got player of the match for the second game voted by the players and coach! The Young dynasty looks set to continue with Emma challenging her Mum for her place next year (if we can steal her away from Leicester - hope Tom checked the contract!).
Michele Pereyer has also has an injury scare - her achilles, and is resting in the hope she'll be fit for the next game.
Patrick Hinks has stood down from 2nd team duty because of music commitments. Patrick plays for several orchestras and found that many of their performances clashed with volleyball fixtures this season
Phil: new first team captain
Patrick: Leaving on the right note
September 2003
IN : Chris Anderson
IN: Andy Lynn
UP: Matt Howe
Joining the Men's first team this season are Chris Anderson from Leicester and Andy Lynn from Cambridge University. Chris was one of Leicester's stars in their promotion to Div II in 2002 and Andy - who was MVP at the EVA Student Cup in 2002 - had trials for the Canadian National team and is viewed as probably Tom Young's most important signing to date.
Also joining the squad and making a comeback after 18 years away is the Home Grown Gnome, Phil Hudson, who will be providing backup for Phil Wyles as setter.
Andy Elliot has signed for the 1st team again after a year "playing up" from the 2nd team.
Dave Nason and Richard Meade have moved down to the 2nd team this season. Big Dick has been struggling to overcome a knee injury and will captain the 2nd team next year whilst Dave "Twiglet" Nason just wants a bit more fun out of the game.
Leaving the team is Mark "Sparky" Fearn who has had enough of the libero role (for now at least).
Taking over the Libero role will be young Matt Howe who impressed coach Tom Young with his display for the 1st team at the Whitefield tournament
IN: Phil Hudson
DOWN: Richard Meade
OUT: Mark "Sparky" Fearn
DOWN: Lynette Purkis
The Ladies 1st team have lost the services of libero Netti to the 2nd team. Netti wants a change from playing libero and is looking forward to serving, spiking and blocking for the first time in 4 years!
They have however gained the services of Gulshan Afandiyeva to balance Netti's defection.
Veronica Garyfollou has also left the club
IN: Gulshan Afandiyeva
IN: Ludo Bonnet
IN: Tigger
In addition to Dave and Big Dick the 2nd team have picked up several new players.
Possibly the most important signing for the team is setter Ludo Bonnet from Birmingham. Ludo has been playing Divison 2 volleyball for the last couple of seasons and has already won a beach challenger event this year as well as being a member of the victorious Riga Mixed team at Whitefield.
"Tigger" joins the team after coaching Chiltern Ladies last year. Dan Turnbull, Luca Molinari and Dave Newson have also signed up.
Leaving the team is last years captain, Tim Bugg, whose knees have also given up the ghost.
Steve Jones has rejoined Riga to coach the Mens 2nd team replacing Steve Howe who will accompany son Matt Howe on his 1st team exploits.
Other notables retiring from 2nd team action for various reasons are Scundi (dodgy knees), Rob Clarke (moved to Liverpool), Sascha Heuer (gone back to Germany), James Stearn (left the area).
IN: Dan Turnbull
OUT: Tim Bugg
OUT: Jane Kinnis
The Ladies 2nd team have lost 2 players from last year. Jane Kinnis has moved to the United States for a couple of years and Irene Scorza has returned to Italy.
