Chris Willies of new Bure League side Expendables has spoken about his appointment as England Team Manager
I am thrilled to step into the role of England Short Mat Bowls Squad Manager. As someone originally from Birmingham but now proudly calling Norfolk home, it is an honour to become the third England Manager hailing from this great county. Building on the strong foundation laid by previous management, I am committed to introducing significant changes aimed at enhancing the squad’s performance and fostering its development. As an international player with over 70 caps, 2 World titles, and 2 Team event titles and an individual title as a player, I’ve achieved a great deal. Also, domestically I have added to my collection of Inter County Championship titles. I now have 7 of these and my first with Norfolk 2 weeks ago. I was also a key part of the West Midlands when they completed the treble of trophies lifting the Inter County Championship, the Inter County Rinks title & the coveted British Isles Inter-County Team Competition in 2017. This was the first time this was achieved, and it has not been done since. Now feels like the right time to embrace this exciting new challenge. My goal is to bring renewed energy and focus to the team, driving both individual and collective progress. Change is an important element of my approach and while change leads to improvement, sustainability and growth create a strong platform to build on. I am dedicated to making this happen. I am delighted to be joined by Tommy Caines from West Midlands as my Assistant Manager. Having worked together in the past, I have full confidence that our partnership will bring fresh ideas and positive changes, helping both the players and the team achieve new heights. To support our plans, we will be taking charge of the ESMBA Open competitions. These will play a role in our vision moving forward. Beyond delivering improved results, we are equally focused on upholding the ESMBA Core Values: Foster, Promote & Encourage. In line with this, our team values will emphasise Drive, Team Spirit, Fair Play & Professionalism. To keep everyone updated and to celebrate our wonderful sport, we’ve launched a new Facebook page. This platform will also serve as a hub for all the latest England Team news. Additionally, we’ve revamped the trials form, introducing an online version to better engage with ESMBA’s registered members and expand participation. With many more exciting changes on the horizon, we welcome anyone interested in trialling for the team.
Chris Willies
England Short Mat Bowls Squad Manager
Chris Willies of Expendables - appointed as England Squad Manager