Doreen Bryant, the founder of Weston Park Netball Club is our sport's very own version of football's Sir Bobby Robson.

Just like the veteran Newcastle United manager, she has been drawing her pension for several years but continues to manage and coach with a club that competes at the highest levels.

Doreen was born on the February 1, 1934 and on Sunday celebrates her 70th birthday.

This date coincides with the club's annual National League spectator fixture being held at Fleming Park. Club members anticipate having two reasons for celebration on the day.

While enjoying success as a netball player with Swaythling and Mid Hants County squads, Doreen, who lived at Weston at the time, worked with the Youth Club of Weston Girls School and here the foundations of the club were laid.

From the 1960s and through to the early 1990s, WPNC had two to three squads ranging in age from mid-teens to mid-30s.

In the 1990s Doreen realised that the only way to secure the future of the club, and ensure its continued success, was to develop young players and compete in tougher leagues.

In the past decade the club has concentrated on coaching young people and creating an environment of aspiration and achievement by competing in the London Poly and National Leagues.

Membership of the club now exceeds 100 with squads at Under-10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 16 levels.

Older club members play for the Southampton Premier or London Poly squads.

The youngest club member is just eight years old.

In the late 1980s WPNC dominated the Southampton League and Doreen decided the club should play further afield to experience competition in other leagues and countries.

In 1983 they toured Malta and in 1989 were invited to play in Trinidad at the World Club Championships as the only team representing England against teams from Trinidad & Tobago, the Caribbean States, Jamaica, Canada and the famous Australian School of Netball.

The club attracts and develops talented players and their 'Hall of Fame' boasts 17 members who have represented England at various levels.

Some of the players Doreen coached have become coaches themselves within the club and many of the daughters of former players are also playing and growing through the squads.

If any club members were to appraise Doreen's abilities as a coach they would all agree that she is quite unique.

She has been able to convert many ungainly and unco-ordinated young people into co-ordinated and intelligent netball players using her honest assessments, uncompromising demand for discipline, guidance, care and wit.

Older club members who benefited from her coaching over the years adore Doreen.

She is good fun, a great friend and still inspires, so it is such a thrill to see youngsters in her under-10 squad blossoming into the potential England players of the future.

Every week she is at the sidelines at the Sports Centre to cheer on whichever WPNC teams are playing and to coach the coaches.

There is tremendous respect for Doreen amongst the teams in the Southampton League. She has coached so many players over the years at club and county level.

She coached the county first team from 1977 to 1981 and the Under-18s from 1981 to 1983. Some of these people are now managing and coaching their own teams.

The Southampton Netball League has an excellent reputation for its standards and competitiveness and has attracted teams from outside the area.

Last year's National League spectator fixture was a true nailbiter. Weston Park were eventual winners after a very even game. Their opponents on Sunday are Kent Club and again the teams are evenly matched.

So if you want to enjoy a fast and exciting game of netball get to Fleming Park Sports Hall on Sunday.

The game starts at 1pm but arrive a bit earlier to get your seat. Tickets are £2 per adult and £1 per child.

You can also join the club in celebrating the age and achievements of its oldest and founding member.

Doreen recently mentioned the word "retirement".

Doreen was my very first netball coach and taught me all my grounding to be a netball player.

She did a great job, as my footwork was always good at a young age.

Doreen, as a coach, was great with youngsters in the way she taught you, but also she was a lovely person and wanted to see you succeed.

So I would like to take this opportunity to say a very 'big thank' you for the start you gave me. I wish you a very happy birthday.

Association trio pass the test

Mid Hants/Southampton Netball Association are pleased to announce that three of their members have recently passed the written examination of the AENA A Award umpiring qualification.

Nick Guise-Smith from Central Park Netball Club and Kylie Woodhead and Paul Ford, both from Home James Netball Club, can now look forward to the practical element of the award.

Mid Hants players in the Southampton area are very fortunate to have such a high standard of umpiring available in their leagues and, similarly, other umpires can benefit from seeing these officials in action.

This can only help to continue to improve the standard of umpiring in our local leagues.