The Heritage Show: 70 Years of Volleyball England - A Conversation with Brian Stalker

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Hey everyone, welcome back to another special edition of That Volleyball Guy – The Heritage Show – the series where we celebrate the rich history of volleyball and shine a light on the incredible people who’ve shaped our sport. This series is proudly produced in partnership with Volleyball England.

This week is a big one – we’re marking 70 years since the very first meeting of the Amateur Volleyball Association of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, which took place on 28th May 1955. That meeting laid the foundation for what we now know as Volleyball England, and it’s only right that we celebrate it in style.

So to help us do just that, I’m thrilled to be joined by someone who has played a major role in our sport’s history – Brian Stalker.

Brian is a former international referee, and during our chat, he shares some fascinating stories and insights from his time officiating at the highest level of the game. We talk about what it takes to be a great referee – the mindset, the qualities, and the challenges that come with the role. Brian also reflects on how the sport has evolved over the years, both on and off the court.

And if that’s not enough, he takes us behind the scenes of his involvement in the London 2012 Olympic Games, and his ongoing contributions to the sport through roles within the FIVB and beyond.

It was a genuinely insightful conversation – one that left me wishing we had even more time to dig into his experiences. If you love volleyball, if you're fascinated by the game's journey in England, or if you're just curious about what goes into refereeing at the highest level, this is one you don’t want to miss.

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