Jess Thirlby

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.

Jess Thirlby
Personal information
Full name Jessica Thirlby (née Garland)
Born (1979-11-15) 15 November 1979
Bristol, England[1]
Height 5 ft 9.25 in (1.76 m)
Spouse Rob Thirlby
Children 3
Relatives Chris Garland (father)
Netball career
Playing position(s): WA, GA
Years Club team(s) Apps
1999–2006 Team Bath
Years National team(s) Caps
2000–2006 England
Coaching career
Years Team(s)
2006–2007 Celtic Dragons
2008–2019 Team Bath
2019– England

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] She called a quits to her coaching career after a combined 30 years of being involved with Team Bath and after helping them win five national titles.[11]

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][12][13][14][15]

Coaching career

Celtic Dragons

During the 2006–07 Netball Superleague season, Thirlby served as head coach of Celtic Dragons.[7][9][10][16]

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][17][18]

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.[13][14][17][19] In July 2019 Thirlby was appointed head coach of the senior England team, taking over from Tracey Neville.[3][8][13][14][20][21]

Honours

Player
Team Bath

Head coach
Team Bath

References
  1. "2005–06 Team Bath squad". www.teambath.com. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  2. Garland, Chris; Ryan, James; Leesdad, Mark (2008), A Life of Two Halves: The Chris Garland Story, Redcliffe, ISBN 978-1-906593-11-7
  3. "Exclusive interview: England Netball head coach Jess Thirlby on replacing Tracey Neville and why chocolate will be key to a happy household". www.telegraph.co.uk. 17 August 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  4. "Rugby Sevens Rugby Sevens - Men Manchester 2002". thecgf.com. 17 August 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
  5. "Netball: Silly name brigade get Super start". www.telegraph.co.uk. 4 May 2001. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  6. "Netball: Tornadoes put wind up Hurricanes as Newton has a real stormer; Super Cup (Bath)". www.thefreelibrary.com. 25 May 2003. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  7. "End of an era as Jess Thirlby announces Team Bath Netball departure after 20 successful years as player and coach". www.teambath.com. 14 January 2019. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  8. "Jess Thirlby named new head coach of England netball". www.bbc.co.uk. 26 July 2019. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
  9. "Garland joins new coaching line-up for Superleague defence". www.womensportreport.com. 31 August 2007. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
  10. "Team Bath names new coaching line-up". www.express.co.uk. 16 May 2008. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
  11. "Head Coach Jess Thirlby to call time at end of 2019 season". 14 January 2019.
  12. "Netball: England face test in semi". www.telegraph.co.uk. 28 July 2000. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
  13. "England Netball secures Jess Thirlby as the new Head Coach". www.englandnetball.co.uk. 26 July 2019. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
  14. "Jess Thirlby". www.englandnetball.co.uk. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
  15. "England net win over Sri Lanka". thecgf.com. 27 July 2002. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  16. "Inspired Abbott Fires Up Dragons". www.sportfocus.com. 11 December 2006. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
  17. "Former England coach Anna Mayes reignites Team Bath Netball coaching partnership with Jess Thirlby". www.teambath.com. 15 September 2015. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
  18. "Jess Thirlby to leave Team Bath". www.skysports.com. 15 January 2019. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  19. "U21 coach Jess Garland talks to express.co.uk". www.express.co.uk. 3 September 2008. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
  20. "Former Blue & Gold player and coach Jess Thirlby named as new England Netball Head Coach". www.teambath.com. 26 July 2019. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
  21. "Jess Thirlby reflects on her time so far as Head Coach". www.englandnetball.co.uk. 17 October 2019. Retrieved 21 February 2020.


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