Women’s Coach Development Programme: Vicky Neville (Selby Boxing Academy)

Vicky Neville, coach at Selby Boxing Academy, is looking forward to showing the young girls at her club that with passion and determination, you can achieve your goals.

How did you first get involved in boxing?

I started at a local club where I was participating in a class just to get fit! I loved how I felt after the class and how it made me feel physically but, most of all, how it made me feel mentally. I then got approached by one of the coaches to help out with the boxing sessions and I loved it.

After a few months, the club paid for me to take my England Boxing Level One coaching course and after I passed that I started to do more coaching, match-making the boxers and pretty much running the club! When lockdown ended, I moved clubs and I’ve progressed so much thanks to my head coach who has faith in me.

How pleased are you to be involved in a programme that is actively bidding to push women’s and girls’ boxing forward?

After applying for the first couple of programmes, to get the email saying I was on this cohort and had got a place made my year! The chance to show females in my club that it is possible to achieve big things through passion and determination, even in what used to be predominantly a male sport, and that you can do it.

What do you hope to get out of the WCDP that can improve you as a coach?

This is a big opportunity to be the best coach I can possibly be to my boxers and to make me believe in myself. I know I have lots to improve, but I will never stop learning and I’ve set myself goals which I hope to achieve. It’ll also be amazing to meet some fantastic women that are as passionate about boxing as I am.

How much will the WCDP help you in your club environment?

The biggest thing for me will be to believe in my coaching skills and not doubt myself all the time. Because I came into boxing late in my life and only ever sparred and never had a bout, it’s easy to feel as though you can never be a good coach, but I know I can be.

Who are your biggest boxing inspirations?

My head coach Mickey Bradshaw is a big inspiration for helping me to believe in myself and my abilities. He’s always pushing me to be better and he’s supporting me as a coach. Martine and Rachel Bowers always support me and they involve me in boxing events and push me to be more confident – Laura Sargeant too, who always makes me feel like I can do it!