In December 2023, Chloe Gibson from Ruddington was posthumously nominated for the Unsung Hero Award from the BBC. This was for her unstinting voluntary work as a netball coach with Cliftonettes Netball Club. Chloe also coached the Nottingham Trent University team and Boots Netball Club.
Starting coaching when she was just 15, she left no stone unturned in her quest to give her best to the girls she coached. Chloe sent for coaching manuals and DVDs from Australia and arranged for England players to share their knowledge at a training session.
But it wasn’t just her netball knowledge that she freely gave; she supported the girls in whatever way she could and many of them now credit her for the women they’ve become.
It was announced on East Midlands Today that Chloe had won the nomination for the East Midland area and the trophy was presented at a surprise visit to a Cliftonettes training session.
Representatives from all 15 TV regions were then invited to attend Sports Personality of the Year – where, disappointingly, the national award didn’t go to Chloe. However, having been voted the East Midlands Unsung Hero is a fitting tribute to the outstanding contribution Chloe made to netball in the county and region.
Her achievements will always be her legacy.
Christine Gibson