Haxby netball legend honoured with refurbished courts in her name

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 9 Oct, 06:19 · Archive

Sports courts at Ethel Ward Playing Fields in Haxby have been refurbished and named after Val Kennedy, a netball coach who spent more than 40 years with the local club.

Val Kennedy, a netball coach who spent more than 40 years with Haxby Netball Club, has been honoured with the official opening of the Val Kennedy Courts at Ethel Ward Playing Fields in Haxby on Saturday. York and North Yorkshire Mayor David Skaith and Lord Mayor of York Margaret Wells attended the opening ceremony. The newly refurbished courts form a modern, accessible, multi-sport facility developed to serve the whole community, including Haxby Runners, Haxby Town FC, Haxby Town JFC, and the netball club.

Ms Kennedy said she fell in love with netball at school and later helped form the club around 1980 when she and about six or seven others started taking their children to school. 'I'm just happy to pass on the passion that I had,' she said. 'To give somebody the pleasure of being in a team - it teaches people how to win, how to lose, how to become teammates.' As chair of the club until 2022, she mentored netball umpires across York, helping them earn England Netball qualifications.

The netball club, alongside other community groups, worked with Haxby Town Council, businesses, volunteers, and funding partners to transform the deteriorating courts into a safe and inclusive space. Marion Willis, current chair of Haxby Netball Club, said the refurbishment means the courts 'can continue to serve future generations'.

How it is being reported

• Haxby netball legend honoured as refurbished sports courts open in her nameNetball coach Val Kennedy, who has inspired generations, has had a sports facility named in her honour in Haxby.The Press (York) · 9 Oct, 05:00
• Haxby netball legend honoured as refurbished sports courts open in her nameNetball coach Val Kennedy, who has inspired generations, has had a sports facility named in her honour in Haxby.Gazette & Herald (Malton) · 9 Oct, 05:00

In this story: Val Kennedy · Haxby Netball Club · Haxby · Ethel Ward Playing Fields · York

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem