#volunteersweek – Merle Hamilton

Merle Hamilton, of Flintshire, has been involved in netball
across Wales since 1977. Previously Sports Officer at the Deeside Leisure Centre, Merle is a Sports Coach for the Flintshire Local
Authority.  

From 1997 – 2007 Merle was Head coach to the U17 Wales National Squad and the assistant coach to the U21 Wales International Squad at the the World Youth Tournament held in Florida in 2005. These positions were all done voluntarily.

Merle coached the North East Wales adult and U21 county for over 30 years achieving many successes.

Merle is currently involved with Deeside Netball Club, North East Wales Junior League, and Vice-Chair on the Welsh Netball Board; as well as umpire mentoring and testing of coaches for the current First for Sport coaching awards.

Merle actually established the North East Wales Netball League, however after many years recently stepped down from this role.

Merle has organised the Pontins Tournaments in Prestatyn for over 30 years. She has seen it develop from one competition with 72 teams to four competitions a year, including a Junior Tournament that is well subscribed to.

“When you see players
that you have coached and nurtured achieve their goal, it is extremely
rewarding and makes the effort all worthwhile. I have coached players that have
gone on to represent Wales, and it makes me feel ‘chuffed to bits’.”

Thank you, Merle, for your infectious love for netball and
all your hard work.