Committee
Club Chair and Junior & Community Development Officer
Luke Whitham
Introducing Luke Whitham, our newly appointed chair and he is continuing his role as 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 Secretary
Lily Hirons
Hi all, my name is Lily Hirons. I have only been playing volleyball for almost 2 years now, with my third season just about to start. This will be my second season with UTV, and I can’t wait for it as I enjoyed myself a lot during my first. The players at UTV are some of the most friendly and warm people you will meet, and everyone helps to make it a safe environment which encourages everybody to learn and develop. I am excited to be the Secretary of Unity Through Volleyball in its second season as the growth within the past year of UTV has been immense, and I only look to embrace another year of this. What I lack in both volleyball and administration experience, I make up for in passion, and specifically passion to maintain the running of a club all members can be proud of. I encourage those who are either new to the game, or may not have been on a court in a while, to come along and see what UTV is all about.
Club Treasurer
Louise Luckraft
Hi my name is Louise Luckraft but most people call me Lou. I have been playing volleyball for over 30 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 over 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 Publicity & Social Media Officer and Fund Raising Officer
Laura Alvarez-Hidalgo
Hello everyone! My name is Laura, and I’m thrilled to be your Publicity and Social Media Officer, as well as your Fundraising Officer. I started playing volleyball in 2017 when I moved to the UK for university, and it quickly became a significant part of my life.
Over the years, I've played various positions, including opposite and middle, but my true passion lies in being an outside hitter.
Currently, I'm playing with UTV Phoenix.
My love for volleyball extends beyond the court. I am dedicated to supporting my clubs and their members in every way I can. Whether it's organising exciting charity volleyball events, creating engaging social media content, or cheering on our teams, I am always eager to contribute.
During my time with UTV Phoenix, I've had the opportunity to witness the incredible sense of community that our club fosters. This has inspired me to take on these roles to further enhance our club's presence and impact. As your Publicity and Social Media Officer, my goal is to highlight our achievements, share our stories, and keep everyone connected and informed through dynamic and creative content.
I'll be working to ensure our social media platforms are vibrant, engaging, and a true reflection of our club's spirit.
As your Fundraising Officer, I am committed to organising events and initiatives that support not only our club but also charitable causes.
From fun and competitive tournaments to community outreach programs, I aim to create opportunities that everyone can be a part of and enjoy while making a positive impact on those in need. Fundraising for charity is essential for our growth and success, and I am dedicated to making our efforts both impactful and enjoyable.
I am incredibly excited to get involved with UTV in this upcoming season. I look forward to meeting all of you, collaborating on exciting projects, and celebrating our victories together. Let's make this season unforgettable and continue to support each other and our community in every way possible.
Thank you for welcoming me into this role, and I can’t wait to see what we can achieve together!
Head Coach
Andrew 'Po' Potter
Hi, My name is Andrew Potter but everyone just calls me Po. I have been playing volleyball for over 29 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 continue as Head Coach for Unity Through Volleyball 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 are 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 will be proud to be associated with.
Coach and Club Welfare Officer
Connor Bromley
I have always had a passion for sport, and at college my specific interest in volleyball began. I studied both a BSc and MSc in Sports Psychology at Plymouth Marjon and was chairman of the volleyball club for a couple of years, coached, and was a mental health first aider alongside. During UTV’s debut year, I have helped captain the Dragons, our mixed EDVA Div 1 team who finished 2nd in the league, and coached many training sessions with the whole range of abilities we have. I look forward to this year, remaining as a coach for the club and being one of our welfare officers, as it makes me feel good to know that I can have a positive impact on everybody’s volleyball journey.
Volunteer Development Officer and Club Welfare Officer
Sam Tonkin
Hiya! My name is Sam Tonkin and I first joined volleyball in a rather unconventional way but it quickly became a passion of mine and such a big part of my life. I am very excited to be part of this committee and to help players reach their full potential.
I’ve been qualified as a referee since 2019 and have learned so much about the sport and gained so much confidence in recent years. Using my expertise, my aim for this year it to ensure volunteers develop and gain the confidence and experience to referee themselves.
I want to help and give back to a sport that has helped me so much. As a recent psychology graduate, I understand that people have individual differences which can impact their performance and experience within the sport. UTV is such a welcoming environment and I want to help people from all backgrounds to enjoy their time in our club. My hopes are that all of our members feel they have someone they can talk to, no matter their circumstances.
I am so thankful to have been nominated for my roles and to be part of a committee that will help UTV and its players to progress even further.
Club Welfare Officer
George Piper
I wanted to start playing volleyball because whilst at university I noticed it was a healthy and positive environment. I joined the UTV beginners sessions initially and although I didn’t quite have the skills to play, the mindset of players and the general camaraderie drew me in right away! This eventually led to me becoming a member of the Krakens team and recently volunteering for role of welfare officer to continue to be a friendly face and someone people of all backgrounds can trust and talk to honestly. As well as playing volleyball I consider myself an outdoors person as well as an avid fan of climbing, listening to a wide variety of music and I have also recently picked up tennis!
