The English starlets laying a foundation for the future

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English youngsters Issa Batrane (left) and Harry Jones in action at this week’s Under-21 World Championships in Lucerne. Photo credit: FIVB.

Close your eyes and imagine a Swatch Major Series in eight years’ time that is dominated by England.

You heard us right. The powerhouse nation in beach volleyball in 2024 is England. They will be the undisputed kings and queens of the court. Period.

Okay, so that might sound like fantasy. But this vision of this sport-crazy country carrying all before them in beach volleyball doesn’t sound as far-fetched when you start to scratch beneath the surface.

You only have to look back to 2012 and the London Olympics. Beach volleyball at the Horse Guard’s Parade. So it doesn’t quite ooze the cool, sandy, sexy Copacabana but the iconic location was packed to the rafters: The Great British public were going wild for beach volleyball. All that was missing was success on the sand for the host nation.

However, that’s something they are trying to change. Volleyball England have outlined a strategy which they hope will see their players ranked in the top 20 of the game in eight years’ time.

It’s a long way off and there’s a lot of hard work to be done – but the approach is already starting to show steady signs of progress.

This week, at the World Under-21 Championships in Lucerne, Issa Batrane and Harry Jones became the first ever team from England to make it through to the pool stage of an FIVB Under-21 tournament.

The young duo have dreams of representing England at an Olympics and in the Swatch Major Series, but in order to reach that stage they know it will require patience and a hell of a lot of hard work.

But the pair are insightful, wise beyond their tender years. They are honest enough to realize that they might not ever realize their ambitions in the game – but they understand that they are part of a bigger picture, a small step, in raising the profile and changing the perception of beach volleyball in England.

Jones is only 18. Next year he will juggle university studies in television production with beach volleyball.

“I do feel a sense of responsibility for the future of beach volleyball in England, especially as a junior,” he says. “We want to pass on our experience to young players, the new breed. For us we want to build something for beach volleyball in England and to leave a legacy. It’s tough but we’re trying to build something for the future.

“We feel we have the chance to help put English beach volleyball on the map. We’re very much the underdogs, especially with no mainstream attention, but that’s something we’re trying to change.” 

Could we see this kind of celebration from an English team at a Swatch Major Series in years to come? They certainly hope so. Photo credit: FIVB

Jones’s partner, Batrane, is two years his senior at 20. In between digging and diving around on the sand in England’s only indoor beach volleyball facility he’s studying to be a computer programmer at Bournemouth University.

He believes given the success and interest in beach volleyball in 2012 – together the country’s 60m population – that there’s no reason why England can’t begin to challenge on the world stage in years to come.

“We’re taking the right steps. The training programs show that we are moving forward, and having the right profile for the game is important to develop future players,” says Batrane.

“The smaller nations like Austria and Norway have produced some great players because they have good training programs and that’s something we’re trying to develop. The more we can produce the better we can become.

“With the legacy of 2012 it is important to build on that and continue to make a pathway for younger players – to leave something behind for them. For me, the more recognition I can get in the game the more of a solid a platform I can leave for those behind me.”

So while it might be some time before you see England filling all three places on the podium at Poreč or claiming gold in Gstaad, who’s to say that won’t be the case in eight years’ time?

The last word is reserved for Jones. He began playing beach volleyball as an 11-year-old and is a two-time British beach volleyball champion.

“In England perhaps we think that things should just be handed to you on a plate but it’s like anything, you have to work hard for things,” he says, honestly.

“But if we can help develop the sport then there’s no reason why we can’t bring everything that is awesome about British sport into beach volleyball.”

Now that’s the kind of attitude we love here. Bring on 2024!