PHOTOS:
Jemma Scourfield
Jemma playing alongside mum Judith

 

 
Jemma Scourfield is the latest addition to the staff at Sport Pembrokeshire in County Hall and her brief is to orchestrate the growth of netball in the county over the next year or so.
 
At the moment Jemma works just eight hours a week out of the Meads Leisure Centre in Milford Haven and if enthusiasm and a willingness to go the extra mile are any criteria then the growth of this action-packed game is assured.
 
She has already set up a team for girls under 11 in the town and eventually hopes to do the same thing at other centres around the county, based on her own experience in the game.
 

Followed in mum’s footsteps

 
And a considerable experience it is too because Jemma has been playing for a long while after initially going along to watch her mum Judith play goal keeper for Pembroke Acorns and the gradually getting involved in training sessions with the Mini Acorns section started by Lyn Lawrence before forcing her way into the senior team.
"I was only 13 when I played some games alongside my mother but she found it strange when I used to shout 'mum' when I wanted her to pass the ball to me," admitted Jemma with a chuckle!
 
At this time, Jemma’s play earned her selection for Pembrokeshire and West Wales Schools’ under 14s and played every year up to the under 18 team, which was very enjoyable but also gave her lots of experience against some excellent players.
 

First an Acorn, then a Cardi and now an Aces player

 
Jemma played for the Acorns as the team merged with Pembroke and thoroughly enjoyed herself there until they stopped playing about four years ago because so many regulars went off to college. Then she had a year playing for Cardigan and then switched her allegiance to Carmarthen Aces, who include talented young Pembrokeshire players like Polly Scotcher (Tenby) and Esme Bellamy (Neyland).
 
“We train every Monday and then play our matches in Swansea the next night,” said Jemma, “and I play goal attack or goal defence. It’s a really good standard and I also play for West Wales against the likes of North East, South East, Afan Nedd/Tawes and Glamorgan Valleys in a big tournament to be held next in Merthyr during March.”
 

Other interests and a rugby involvement

 
As well as her netball, Jemma also played hockey and cricket in junior school, as well as competing in athletics over 800 metres for two years. She played rugby at full back for the Quins’ Ladies and with Tenby Ladies against the likes of Carmarthen Quins and Aberystwyth but it began to clash with netball and so had to go.
 
But she retained her interest by helping to coach and referee the Quins Mini Rugby – taking her coaching course in Haverfordwest alongside fellow Quins Paul Rogers and Phil Hughes under the watchful eyes of Kenny Davies and Ian Ace. She also helped coach at Stepaside School, where she worked, and joined them on an

enjoyable tour in Ireland. Her referee course tutor was none other than top official Nigel Owens and on this occasion it was big brother Michael who acted as her ‘minder’!
 

Family matters

 
That Jemma should be such a useful all-round sportswoman should come as no surprise because as well as her mum Judith being a very good rugby player the Scourfield family are well known for their long association with Pembroke Dock Harlequins in rugby. Dad Lennie was captain and coach for many years in a very successful Quins’ team that also included her uncle Roy, whilst her brothers Michael and Gareth have also skippered the team – and nephews Liam and Lewis are also beginning to make a name for themselves. Her future husband, Iwan James, is also involved as a good rugby player with Crymych RFC!
 

Netball coaching opportunity

 
Back on the netball front, Jemma took her Level One coaching course two years ago and when she saw the part-time post as Community Netball Coach decided to apply. After interview with Ben Field and Lois Hilling from Sport Pembrokeshire, alongside Lynne Ryland, from the Welsh Netball Association, she was delighted to be offered the chance to stimulate interest in her favourite sport.
 
She has made a very good start with her under 11s club in Milford Haven because Jemma had 16 youngsters turn up for her first practice session at the Meads, having advertised it in the centre, in the Western Telegraph, Radio Pembrokeshire and PembrokeshireSport.co.uk.
Perhaps just as importantly, one lady has already offered help and is considering attending the Level One coaching course, with 14 year old Amy Walters also eager to give a helping hand as the group train every Tuesday evening at The Meads from 6 to 7pm.
“There are already some very promising players, considering how young they are,” Jemma told us, “and if they can maintain their enthusiasm and willingness to learn we will soon have a strong team.”
 

Aiming high

 
Not content with making such a good start, Jemma eventually aims to offer the same sort of opportunity in other areas of Pembrokeshire.
“Jemma has made an excellent start with us,” said Ben Field, the manager at Sport Pembrokeshire, “and she has quickly settled in with the rest of our team in County Hall, which is important. We are confident she will do a very good job for netball in our county.”
 
We could only agree with that assessment from Ben and we wish Jemma Scourfield every success because she is a smashing young lady who relishes the challenges ahead for her!