Victorian instructor Wendy Sidebottom displays on ‘very uncommon’ 550-game profession in nation netball
It is becoming that Wendy Sidebottom is the unofficial historian for Congupna Soccer/Netball Membership in Victoria’s Goulburn Valley, given she wrote herself into the file books this yr, taking part in her 550th recreation of senior netball for the membership.
The 60-year-old mother-of-four, and aunt of Congupna’s most-famous export, Collingwood star Steele Sidebottom, solely got here out of retirement to drag on the pink costume this season to assist make up the numbers in C-reserve grade.
Sidebottom hit the 500-game mark a decade in the past, taking part in alongside her daughters Ashlea, Hannah, Sophie and Ella, and sisters Helen and Sue, after her mom Barb tossed the coin, in what she describes as her favorite netball reminiscence. And she or he stuffed in “right here and there” till she ostensibly retired 5 years in the past.
“I knew once I retired I used to be near 550 video games, however for me, my five hundredth was so particular it did not matter. I hadn’t bought there, it was no massive deal. I used to be comfortable to step apart and let the younger ones take over.”
However in early 2022, Congupna, like many different sporting organisations throughout Australia, was in need of gamers after a number of COVID-disrupted seasons. The membership she’s a life member of caught Sidebottom on the proper second.
“I would just performed in a tennis grand closing, I felt match and it was heat out. They have been so quick they requested if I might perhaps play, I stated sure after which somebody identified that I used to be solely three video games away from 550.
“I used to be a bit embarrassed about it to begin with as a result of I felt I would retired from netball actually and I used to be solely serving to out. Everybody needed to make an enormous deal out of it however I insisted they did not. It was extra a tick-box for me, I would bought there.”
Unity Cup marks milestone match
In early Might, aged 59, Sidebottom “ticked the field” in spherical six of the Murray Soccer/Netball League season, when her beloved “Roaders” (Congupna began as a settlement known as Congupna Street) performed Rumbalara. She “slipped on and off” the courtroom with little to no fanfare.
Whereas her group misplaced, the milestone match coincided with the league’s Unity Cup, a day honouring the contributions of girls in neighborhood sport like Sidebottom, who not solely play, however coach, umpire, sit on membership and league committees and usually hold grassroots golf equipment ticking over with numerous volunteer hours.
“I suppose it is a fairly good thing to have achieved and it was good for it to be on that day particularly,” Sidebottom stated.
“I used to be requested to be one of many visitor audio system on the girls’s lunch that day to speak about girls in sport and my involvement at Congupna and league stage.
“However the video games I performed this yr have been extra about serving to the youthful women and instructing them, not about me or a quantity. I used to be just like the outdated grandma on the market with a bunch of 18-year-olds!
“Counting video games wasn’t actually a factor once I was youthful, although. The membership solely began calculating my video games, backwards, as soon as I would began having youngsters. Think about in the event that they included my junior video games as nicely?” the instructor stated.
A lifelong love of the sport
Sidebottom’s netball journey started when she was 9 and Congupna performed within the Tungamah Soccer/Netball League. She began as a shooter, then moved to defence and completed within the midcourt as a wily wing assault.
“Rising up, we have been a sporting household, so netball turned my factor. I liked it from the very begin and saved taking part in and taking part in. It has been so a few years.”
Fifty-one, in truth.
Premierships and friendships are the stand-out recollections.
“I gained a C-grade flag with my daughter Sophie, who was 17 on the time, simply earlier than I retired the primary time and that was fairly cool. We have been premiers in C and Sophie’s group was premiers within the 17s and she or he stuffed in for the C-grade group.
“I used to be fortunate to have a number of success once I first began taking part in A-grade as a younger lady. In my first 16 years we made finals yearly and have been both premiers or runners-up, apart from a few seasons,” Sidebottom stated.
“The wonderful mates you make alongside the best way stick with you too, which could be very particular.”
Additionally rewarding has been her work away from the courtroom.
“I’ve umpired, coached and been on the committee on the membership. I believe I’ve most likely achieved each job besides president and liked each little bit of it,” she stated.
“Folks wish to spend their time doing numerous issues, it is simply that I’ve all the time been very keen about netball.”
Guaranteeing historical past is recorded
Sidebottom’s ardour extends to preserving her membership’s proud historical past.
“I believe that facet of issues is actually vital. In the event you do not file that, respect it and go it on, it could perhaps die,” she stated.
“I need folks to know what the membership stands for, so I wish to be actually concerned in guaranteeing the historical past is recorded.”
Whereas netball record-keeping is usually left as much as golf equipment, Julie Walsh, the president of the Murray Soccer/Netball League, who has recognized Sidebottom for 15 years and labored alongside her on many committees, stated it was “very, very uncommon” to see a participant attain 550 video games.
Just one different Murray league participant, veteran participant and administrator Karen Donkin, may someday attain the identical watermark, Walsh stated.
“I’m in awe of Wendy reaching this … not solely reaching it however having the chance to play along with her sisters and daughters is one thing all moms dream of doing in a contest that is all about neighborhood,” she stated.
“Wendy is a aggressive particular person and performed to win however as time progressed, she performed for the love and growth of others round her. Growth of juniors was an actual ardour for her.”
This contribution as a coach, in addition to a membership and league committee member, and as an umpire who has additionally mentored numerous younger officers, are as spectacular as her taking part in resume, Walsh stated.
“These coached by Wendy not solely discovered the talent and craft of taking part in a group sport, learn how to convey others into the sport and learn how to play as a group, [she also taught them] learn how to act off the courtroom and the significance of giving again to the neighborhood and the membership.
“Wendy is what all of us aspire to be on a committee, too. She’s measured and well-thought-out. She thinks about the entire image relating to what’s finest for gamers, golf equipment and the league,” she stated.
Angela Banbury, the overall supervisor of netball growth at Netball Victoria, the game’s governing physique, described Sidebottom’s effort as unbelievable.
“Video games apart, it is also the added preparation equivalent to trainings and pre-season that additionally provides up by way of your netball profession,” she stated.
“To listen to Wendy isn’t solely an amazing contributor on the courtroom, however provides again to the neighborhood by way of teaching, umpiring and being on the committee is the spirit that embodies netball.
“We’re so fortunate to have somebody like her in our netball household.”
Now “positively” retired, Sidebottom intends to spend extra time along with her speedy household, following her daughters’ netball exploits.
There’s life after netball … extra netball.
ABC Sport is partnering with Siren Sport to raise the protection of Australian girls in sport.
Erin Delahunty is a contract sports activities and have author.
Source link