The gold standard of coaching for Liberte
A FORMER England Rose and Commonwealth Games champion gave a masterclass to Liberte Netball Club’s aspiring young players on Saturday.
Eboni Usoro-Brown (nee Beckford-Chambers) starred in England’s historic triumph at Gold Coast 2018, going on to amass 117 caps for her country before retiring last summer.
But Usoro-Brown has stayed close to netball and is one of 41 ambassadors serving the Mintridge Foundation, which calls on such sporting role models to inspire schools, clubs and colleges around the British Isles.
The 6ft 1in netball titan provided ball skills, drills and tactical work for Liberte’s four teams at Les Beaucamps High School, followed by showing off her Commonwealths gold and answering questions from awed youngsters.
‘It’s wonderful to come over,’ she said.
‘It’s my first time being in Guernsey, and it’s been wonderful just to see their enthusiasm.
‘They have got a very high standard and skillset, and it’s just great to see the level of interest and the numbers that are currently involved in this club.
‘It shows how strong netball is on the island.’
Her trip arose from Liberte coach Natalie Carre messaging her on Instagram, inviting her to visit the relatively new club – which she gladly accepted.
Fellow Liberte coach Em Mills shared her enthusiasm.
‘It’s so exciting for them to have an inspirational person and someone that competed at the top level that they can look up to,’ Mills said.
‘You know, she is a normal person, she has a full-time job and the level she has got to is achievable for anyone that really wants it and wants to go down that road.
‘It’s something that’s never been done in Guernsey, so having her here exclusively for Liberte is exciting. The players can learn from her, as well as coaches.’
Usoro-Brown was once that young girl watching England play Australia at Wembley.
Not in her wildest dreams would she have seen herself representing England and ending Australia and New Zealand’s run of Commonwealths titles in 2018. But her career achievements go well beyond that.
‘Commonwealth Games is definitely the highlight, but in 2019 I got my 100th cap for England,’ she added.
‘Being that girl at 12 wanting to play for England and go to Wembley, to be able to become a centurion was something incredibly special for me.’
The renowned defender entered England Netball’s Hall of Fame – an extremely rare honour that even Jersey’s legendary Serena Guthrie has not achieved – in 2020.
She had her daughter Savannah that August, but she made a resurgence and last year enjoyed a stint in Australia’s top flight with Queensland Firebirds.
She then said an emotional farewell to the sport at Birmingham 2022.
‘I never thought I’d be back in a red dress, so to be able to retire at a home Commonwealth Games, not necessarily with a medal, but being with my family and friends to say goodbye to the sport I’d loved – with my daughter and my husband in the crowd – and knowing the journey I’d been on to get there was really special.’
n The visiting Royals proved too tough for Panthers U16s to overcome at Beau Sejour on Saturday afternoon.
The girls from Windsor triumphed 45-34 to extend the Guernsey side’s losing streak in South U16s Division Two.
