QuidditchUK are saddened to announce the departure of Emily Oughtibridge as Team UK head coach effective immediately. After working closely with Team UK over the last four years and being crucial in their successes during this time, Oughtibridge decided earlier this year that the World Cup 2018 would be her last time working with the team.

With regards to her tenure with Team UK, Oughtibridge had this to say:

“My time with Team UK has lead to some of my greatest achievements and many brilliant memories. I am incredibly proud of all our achievements since I joined the coaching team in Sarteano and I am privileged to have been involved. I have seen this sport go from bamboo brooms and hosepipe hoops on a hillside in Bangor, to the fierce international competition in a stadium in Florence. I am so grateful to have been a part of the Team UK journey.

Four years of being in and around the national team requires some expression of gratitude. The list is a long one and I have inherited a certain ability to keep talking when given an opportunity. I won’t begrudge you for skimming over this bit. I would like to thank every one of my players that have ever trained for my team, and those who will earn the shirt in future for believing that this sport of ours is worth your time and effort. I cannot thank every fan, both pitch-side and following over whichever social media platform was working at the time, enough for your support. You make the blood, sweat and tears easier to bear.

I would like to publicly thank those who work tirelessly behind the scenes to make Team UK training possible. Tom Heynes, Jemma Thripp and Bex Lowe have organised training squad sessions and the logistics of our tournaments whilst playing at the highest level and they deserve all of our appreciation.

The assistant coaches I have worked with deserve more than just a mention. Robbie Dugald Young and Ben Morton- you have moulded seeking into an art form. James Thanangadan and Lucy Q, your understanding of the game and pursuit of excellence makes this game better every time you play. Jay Holmes, for your commitment to the process, wearing as many hats as possible for the UK, and stepping up brilliantly when I needed you. Thank you.

Ashley Cooper, we had a chat on the side of a pitch in Sarteano way back in 2015. We agreed that what the national team needed was multiple coaches and training sessions all year round. Thank you for trusting me to take your team on, thank you for your vision. The All Blacks rugby team believe that players do not own the shirt, they are merely looking after it for the next player. Stepping into the shoes of the Team World coach was an honour and a privilege. I hope that I have looked after this team in a way that the community can be proud of, and I look forward to seeing what new heights the next lucky person can achieve.”

QuidditchUK would like to once again thank Emily for her dedication to Team UK and wish her all the best in the future.

Applications will be open for the position of Team UK coach from next week.

Photography credit: Ajantha Abey Quidditch Photography