SportLink International News
​The latest programmes and plans for future sporting partnerships
Gateshead College Coaches Return To China
We are delighted to confirm that after successful training events in 2024 and 2025, coaches from Gateshead College Netball Academy will return to China at Easter 2026.
Led by the highly experienced England Colleges Coach Julie Kimber, a group of 11 students from the Academy will introduce the game to selected schools and colleges in Hebei Province, as well as returning to previous locations to catch up on their progress.
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This year’s group includes three returnees from 2025 including Sophie Henderson, the Academy’s 1st Team Captain and a rising star in England Colleges National netball squad. Sophie’s Co-Captains are also making the trip.
Transfer of website maintenance to Phoebe Kowhai Barnes
We are transferring the maintenance and updating of our website to our new colleague Phoebe Kowhai Barnes who will take over from Jane Armstrong, the freelancer who has done this to date.
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As well as maintaining our website, Phoebe will be producing all marketing materials for us.
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Big thanks to Jane who designed our websites and (quite rightly) made us think hard about what we were trying to achieve and why.
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Jane runs the fantastic website for Headcorn Village in Kent and comes with our wholehearted recommendation if you are looking for someone to get your own website going.
Charlton Athletic Return to Qinhuangdao
Following last year’s successful football camp, coaches from the Charlton Athletic Community Trust (CACT) have returned to Qinhuangdao in Hebei Province, China. Three coaches have been working with the Elite Under-18 girls’ team at our partner High School in the city to prepare them for the upcoming U18 Hebei Province Tournament. The coaching has focused on tactics and game management.
CACT Lead Coach Richard Styles explained – ‘Chinese school footballers already have good technical skills so the areas where we are trying to improve performance are game play, set pieces and tournament mindset. We have trained two sessions a day for the past ten days and we will now accompany the girls to the tournament where we hope they will be successful. Torrential rain and scorching heat – all characteristics of July in Hebei – have caused some disruption but the players have shown huge enthusiasm as we try and get them to the next level’.
