English netball player and coach
Jessica Thirlby (née Garland ; born 15 November 1979) is a former England netball international and the current head coach of the England national netball team . As a player, she was a member of the Team Bath squad that won the inaugural 2005–06 Netball Superleague title. She also represented England at the 2002 Commonwealth Games . As a head coach, she guided Team Bath to further Netball Superleague titles in 2008–09 , 2009–10 and 2013 . In July 2019, Thirlby was appointed head coach of the senior England national netball team.
Early life and family
Jess Thirlby is the daughter of Chris Garland , who was a former professional football player, and his wife, Patricia Cooper. She has two brothers, Adam and Ryan.[ 2] [ 3] She is married to Rob Thirlby , who is a former England rugby sevens international . Her husband also represented England at the 2002 Commonwealth Games . She is a mother of two children and stepmother to a third.[ 3] [ 4]
Playing career
Team Bath
Between 1999 and 2006, Thirlby played for Team Bath . She was one of Team Bath's first full-time players. Between 2001 and 2005, she played in all five Team Bath Super Cup campaigns, making 31 appearances. In 2004 she was a member of the Team Bath squad that won the Super Cup. She was also a member of the Team Bath squad that won the inaugural 2005–06 Netball Superleague title. Her team mates at Team Bath included Pamela Cookey , Rachel Dunn , Stacey Francis , Tamsin Greenway and Geva Mentor .[ 1] [ 5] [ 6] [ 7] [ 8] [ 9] [ 10]
England
Thirlby represented England at every level from under-16 to senior. Between 2000 and 2006 she was a regular member of the senior squad. She also represented England at the 2002 Commonwealth Games .[ 1] [ 3] [ 7] [ 8] [ 11] [ 12] [ 13] [ 14]
Coaching career
Celtic Dragons
During the 2006–07 Netball Superleague season , Thirlby served as head coach of Celtic Dragons .[ 7] [ 9] [ 10] [ 15]
Team Bath
During the 2007–08 Netball Superleague season , Thirlby served as an assistant coach to Jan Crabtree at Team Bath .[ 7] [ 9] [ 10] She was appointed Team Bath's head coach for the 2008–09 Netball Superleague season . She subsequently guided Team Bath to further Netball Superleague titles in 2008–09, 2009–10 and 2013 .[ 7] Between 2015 and 2019 , Thirlby served as Team Bath's director of netball.[ 7] [ 16] [ 17]
England
While still an active player, Thirlby coached the England under-17 and under-19 teams during 2004 and 2005. She later served as both an assistant coach and head coach with the England under-21 team at the 2009 and 2013 World Youth Cups . Between 2013 and 2015 she served as an assistant coach to Anna Mayes with the senior England team.[ 12] [ 13] [ 16] [ 18] In July 2019 Thirlby was appointed head coach of the senior England team, taking over from Tracey Neville .[ 3] [ 8] [ 12] [ 13] [ 19] [ 20]
Honours
Player
Team Bath
Head coach
Team Bath
References
Champions (6) Seasons Grand Finals Competitions Head coaches
Players Tournaments
Series
Captains Head coaches