The new National Volleyball Centre (NVC) has launched in Kettering.

Based at the Kettering Conference Centre, the NVC will be the base for training and competition for the national men’s, women’s, junior and Great Britain’s sitting volleyball teams over the next four years.

East Midlands Development Agency, Kettering Borough Council and Northampton Enterprise have provided funding to help create four volleyball courts, new seating areas and a social and educational area.

The chief executive of Volleyball England, Lisa Wainwright, said: “We identified within our strategic plan for 2009/13 our aspiration to establish a national centre for training and competition to ensure we can provide top quality facilities and services to our talented athletes and all our educators within the sport.

“Key volunteers including coaches, team managers and referees will also be accessing top class support through the new centre. I know the centre will provide a fantastic base for our England squads and also the GB Sitting Programme and I particularly look forward to seeing our major events being hosted in Kettering.”