Committee
Club Chairman
David Luckraft
I started playing volleyball when I joined the Fire Brigade, aged 20, in 1977, because it was the traditional lunch time activity. Being a non-volleyball player I was told "just do what everyone else does"! Nearly 20 years later I attended my first official volleyball club training session and so not only have I represented the Fire Brigade at tournaments I then played for Plymouth at South West and National League levels. Unfortunately a non-volleyball related injury stopped me playing back in 2018 but I understand the passion for volleyball and am envious of all the lucky people who are playing.
I have vast experience of chairing meetings from my working career spanning 41 years in the Fire Service.
I am proud to be the Chair of this new club and will use my experience to support the committee and all members of the club. Plans are in place for me to mentor and develop a playing member for this role in the future. I plan to stay involved with this exciting new venture working alongside many remarkable people.
Club Secretary and Welfare Officer
Andrew 'Po' Potter
Hi, My name is Andrew Potter but everyone just calls me Po. I have been playing volleyball for over 28 years and have have had a wide ranging career as a player and volunteer - I played in National League up until 2009, Refereed to a high level including international competitions and coached professionally for over 15 years. I am excited to be the Secretary of Unity Through Volleyball in its inaugural season due to the amazing potential there is for growing the game and creating positive talent pathways for the Plymouth community. My aspirations for this coming year on the committee is to help provide a stable administrative foundation for its membership and to help create a positive and nurturing culture for existing players to enjoy the sport they adore or for new people to fall in love with volleyball and to be part of a club they be proud to be associated with.
Club Treasurer
Louise Luckraft
Hi my name is Louise Luckraft but most people call me Lou. I have been playing volleyball for over 28 years progressing from a complete beginner at the age of 36 to play local league, then South West and National League levels. My volleyball quote is “I was a veteran before I was a novice!” Therefore I am excited and enthusiastic that this newly formed volleyball club, Unity Through Volleyball (UTV) will give other people, of all ages, the opportunity to try this amazing sport too, as well as providing lots of opportunities for existing players.
I have recently been elected as treasurer for UTV and I have nearly 30 years experience of being treasurer for various sports clubs. I want to invest some of my time back into volleyball, simply because it is a sport I love and have so many fantastic memories of both the playing and the social side.
Club Junior & Community Development Officer
Luke Whitham
Introducing Luke Whitham, our newly appointed Junior and Community Development Officer! Luke's love for volleyball began in his early teenage years, and he has since been actively involved in the sport as a player, coach, and mentor.
Currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Sports, Physical Education & Health at Cardiff Metropolitan University, Luke has been heavily embedded in the volleyball community. As Chairman and captain of the university's club and Men's squad, he has gained a deep understanding of the sport, including its technical aspects and effective team leadership.
Luke has also been instrumental in driving competitive junior volleyball in the city of Cardiff with Team South Wales, where he has helped young athletes develop their skills and passion for the sport. He has organized a range of volleyball clinics and camps to promote volleyball within both the Welsh and English communities and created pathways for juniors to succeed and compete in the NVL DIV 1 Ladies league.
As the Junior/Community Development Officer with UTV, Luke's main objective is to promote and develop volleyball among athletes in the community. He will work closely with local schools, clubs, and coaches to provide opportunities for athletes to participate in the sport and enhance their skills. Luke will also organize volleyball clinics and camps, coaching sessions, and workshops to promote and improve the sport.
With Luke's extensive knowledge of the sport, passion for volleyball, and experience working with young athletes, he is the perfect fit for the role of Volleyball Junior/Community Development Officer. He is dedicated to making a positive impact on the community and empowering young athletes to reach their full potential in the sport.
Club Publicity and Social Media Officer, Volunteer Development Officer and Welfare Officer
Trinity Crampton
Hi there, my name is Trinity but everyone knows me as Trin. I have been playing volleyball for around 6 years now and have grown in my volleyball career with Po as my coach. Within my time playing I have been apart of many teams such as ladies south west, multiple EDVA teams and mixed teams. I’ve been on court side helping out wherever I can even if that means I’m screaming my support from the sidelines. I’m so excited to be apart of the comitee in multiple positions as I have so many ideas to bring to the table to help the club flourish in its first season. I look forward to setting up many social events for all members of the club to enjoy and help build a family within the club. I’m so honoured to be able to be apart of helping and developing the skill and social experiences for the players within our club and am really looking forward to the memories we all build together.
Welfare Officer
Victoria Wilkins
My name is Victoria Wilkins, I have been playing volleyball since I was 11 years old, totalling 14 years experience. Whilst playing as a junior my team had many exciting achievements such as coming third in the Under 15 National Championships and winning the Inter-Regionals Championships with the South-West Team. These opportunities have continued into my adult teams where I got to play in the National Shield final in 2014. This has all led up to this past season where I had the privilege of becoming the ladies captain. I am excited for the 23/24 season to play in such a fun-loving and competitive team whilst also supporting the rising stars within our new club.
I am bringing my knowledge of safeguarding to the committee to ensure everyone feels safe and secure to just enjoy playing the sport. I am very much looking forward to bringing my love and enthusiasm for the sport into this new committee to help UTV become a welcoming, supportive and fun environment for volleyball to thrive within Plymouth.
