Jess Thirlby
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Jessica Thirlby (née: Garland) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 15 November 1979 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 9.25 in (1.76 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Spouse | Rob Thirlby | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Relative | Chris Garland (father) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Netball career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Jessica Thirlby (née Garland; born 15 November 1979) is a former England netball international and former head coach of the England national netball team. As a player, she was a member of the Team Bath squad that won the inaugural 2005–06 Netball Superleague title. She also represented England at the 2002 Commonwealth Games. As a head coach, she guided Team Bath to further Netball Superleague titles in 2008–09, 2009–10 and 2013. In July 2019, Thirlby was appointed head coach of the senior England national netball team. Under Thirlby's guidance, England have finished as runners up at the 2023 Netball World Cup and won the 2021 and 2024 Taini Jamison Trophy Series' and the 2025 Netball Nations Cup.
Early life and family
Jess Thirlby is the daughter of Chris Garland, who was a former professional football player, and his wife, Patricia Cooper. She has two brothers, Adam and Ryan.[2][3] She is married to Rob Thirlby, who is a former England rugby sevens international. Her husband also represented England at the 2002 Commonwealth Games. She is a mother of two children and stepmother to a third.[3][4]
Playing career
Team Bath
Between 1999 and 2006, Thirlby played for Team Bath. She was one of Team Bath's first full-time players. Between 2001 and 2005, she played in all five Team Bath Super Cup campaigns, making 31 appearances. In 2004 she was a member of the Team Bath squad that won the Super Cup. She was also a member of the Team Bath squad that won the inaugural 2005–06 Netball Superleague title. Her team mates at Team Bath included Pamela Cookey, Rachel Dunn, Stacey Francis, Tamsin Greenway and Geva Mentor.[1][5][6][7][8][9][10]
England
Thirlby represented England at every level from under-16 to senior. Between 2000 and 2006 she was a regular member of the senior squad. She also represented England at the 2002 Commonwealth Games.[1][3][7][8][11][12][13][14]
Coaching career
Celtic Dragons
During the 2006–07 Netball Superleague season, Thirlby served as head coach of Celtic Dragons.[7][9][10][15]
Team Bath
During the 2007–08 Netball Superleague season, Thirlby served as an assistant coach to Jan Crabtree at Team Bath.[7][9][10] She was appointed Team Bath's head coach for the 2008–09 Netball Superleague season. She subsequently guided Team Bath to further Netball Superleague titles in 2008–09, 2009–10 and 2013.[7] Between 2015 and 2019, Thirlby served as Team Bath's director of netball.[7][16][17]
England
While still an active player, Thirlby coached the England under-17 and under-19 teams during 2004 and 2005. She later served as both an assistant coach and head coach with the England under-21 team at the 2009 and 2013 World Youth Cups. Between 2013 and 2015 she served as an assistant coach to Anna Stembridge with the senior England team.[12][13][16][18] In July 2019 Thirlby was appointed head coach of the senior England team, taking over from Tracey Neville.[3][8][12][13][19][20] Under Thirlby's guidance, England have finished as runners up at the 2023 Netball World Cup[21][22] and won the 2021[23] and 2024 Taini Jamison Trophy Series'[24] and the 2025 Netball Nations Cup.[25] In March 2026, Thirlby stepped down as England head coach with immediate effect and four months before the 2026Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.[26] She cited needing to process the death of her father as the reason and was replaced by assistant coach and ex head coach Anna Stembridge in the interim with recruitment to take place after the Commonwealth Games.[26]
Honours
Player
- Netball Superleague
- Winners: 2005–06: 1
- Super Cup
- Winners: 2004: 1
Head coach
- Netball World Cup
- Runners up: 2023
- Taini Jamison Trophy
- Netball Nations Cup
- Winners: 2025
References
- ^ a b c "2005–06 Team Bath squad". www.teambath.com. Archived from the original on 10 January 2020. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
- ^ Garland, Chris; Ryan, James; Leesdad, Mark (2008), A Life of Two Halves: The Chris Garland Story, Redcliffe, ISBN 978-1-906593-11-7
- ^ a b c d "Exclusive interview: England Netball head coach Jess Thirlby on replacing Tracey Neville and why chocolate will be key to a happy household". www.telegraph.co.uk. 17 August 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
- ^ "Rugby Sevens Rugby Sevens - Men Manchester 2002". thecgf.com. 17 August 2019. Archived from the original on 24 February 2020. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
- ^ "Netball: Silly name brigade get Super start". www.telegraph.co.uk. 4 May 2001. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
- ^ "Netball: Tornadoes put wind up Hurricanes as Newton has a real stormer; Super Cup (Bath)". www.thefreelibrary.com. 25 May 2003. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f "End of an era as Jess Thirlby announces Team Bath Netball departure after 20 successful years as player and coach". www.teambath.com. 14 January 2019. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
- ^ a b c "Jess Thirlby named new head coach of England netball". www.bbc.co.uk. 26 July 2019. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
- ^ a b c "Garland joins new coaching line-up for Superleague defence". www.womensportreport.com. 31 August 2007. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
- ^ a b c "Team Bath names new coaching line-up". www.express.co.uk. 16 May 2008. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
- ^ "Netball: England face test in semi". www.telegraph.co.uk. 28 July 2000. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
- ^ a b c "England Netball secures Jess Thirlby as the new Head Coach". www.englandnetball.co.uk. 26 July 2019. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
- ^ a b c "Jess Thirlby". www.englandnetball.co.uk. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
- ^ "England net win over Sri Lanka". thecgf.com. 27 July 2002. Archived from the original on 13 August 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
- ^ "Inspired Abbott Fires Up Dragons". www.sportfocus.com. 11 December 2006. Archived from the original on 12 March 2022. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
- ^ a b "Former England coach Anna Mayes reignites Team Bath Netball coaching partnership with Jess Thirlby". www.teambath.com. 15 September 2015. Archived from the original on 21 February 2020. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
- ^ "Jess Thirlby to leave Team Bath". www.skysports.com. 15 January 2019. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
- ^ "U21 coach Jess Garland talks to express.co.uk". www.express.co.uk. 3 September 2008. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
- ^ "Former Blue & Gold player and coach Jess Thirlby named as new England Netball Head Coach". www.teambath.com. 26 July 2019. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
- ^ "Jess Thirlby reflects on her time so far as Head Coach". www.englandnetball.co.uk. 17 October 2019. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
- ^ a b "Australia dominate England to win Netball World Cup for 12th time". www.theguardian.com. 6 August 2023. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
- ^ a b "Netball World Cup: Australia beat England in final to deny Vitality Roses a first title". www.skysports.com. 7 August 2023. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
- ^ a b "Match Reaction: Guthrie, Mentor and Thirlby on series win". www.englandnetball.co.uk. 24 September 2021. Archived from the original on 24 September 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ a b "Vitality Roses in New Zealand: England seal Taini Jamison Trophy with another stunning win". www.skysports.com. 2 October 2024. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
- ^ a b "Netball Nations Cup 2025: England claim first tournament triumph after final win over South Africa". www.skysports.com. 9 February 2025. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
- ^ a b "Jess Thirlby steps down as England Netball head coach". BBC Sport. 17 March 2026. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
- ^ "England Roses head coach Jess Thirlby reveals squad to face South Africa". Sky Sports. 7 November 2019.
- ^ "Vitality Netball Nations Cup squad revealed". www.englandnetball.co.uk. 23 December 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2025.
- ^ "Netball Legend Series: England beat Superleague All Stars 67-44". www.bbc.com. 22 January 2021.
- ^ "Vitality Roses squad revealed for Vitality Roses Reunited Series". www.englandnetball.co.uk. 11 November 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
- ^ "Netball Quad Series: England's Vitality Roses beaten by Australia in final at Copper Box". www.skysports.com. 20 January 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2025.
- ^ "Commonwealth Games: England suffer agonising loss to New Zealand in bronze medal match". www.skysports.com. 7 August 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
- ^ "England 64-51 Uganda: Roses complete perfect series". www.bbc.com. 9 October 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
- ^ "Australia 56-48 England: Roses lose series after second Test defeat". www.bbc.com. 30 October 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
- ^ "England 58-61 Jamaica: Jhaniele Fowler shines to set up series decider". www.bbc.com. 14 January 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
- ^ "Netball Quad Series: England finish third with victory over hosts South Africa". www.bbc.co.uk. 25 January 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
- ^ "Jess Thirlby: England were outsmarted by Australia in 69-49 Nations Cup final". www.skysports.com. 29 January 2024. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
- ^ "Australia 69-56 England: Diamonds end Roses' hopes of historic series win with victory in deciding Test". www.skysports.com. 25 September 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
- ^ "Vitality Roses: England fall to 55-49 loss against New Zealand as Silver Ferns win Vitality International series decider". www.skysports.com. 19 November 2025. Retrieved 23 November 2025.
