{{short description|Former English netball player and coach}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}} {{Use British English|date=July 2019}} {{Infobox netball biography |name = Jess Thirlby |fullname = Jessica Thirlby (née: Garland) |birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1979|11|15}} |birth_place = Bristol, England<ref name="teambath200506">{{cite web|url=http://www.teambath.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Team-Bath-Netball-2005-06-squad.jpg|title=2005–06 Team Bath squad|publisher=www.teambath.com|accessdate=18 February 2020|archive-date=10 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200110220040/https://www.teambath.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Team-Bath-Netball-2005-06-squad.jpg|url-status=dead}}</ref> |height = {{height|ft=5|in=9.25}} |school = |university = |occupation = |relatives = Chris Garland (father) |spouse = Rob Thirlby |positions = WA, GA |clubyears1 = 1999–2006 |clubteam1 = Team Bath |clubapps1 = |nationalyears1 = 2000–2006 |nationalteam1 = England |nationalcaps1 = |coachyears1 = 2006–2007 |coachteam1 = Celtic Dragons |coachyears2 = 2008–2019 |coachteam2 = Team Bath |coachyears3 = 2019–2026 |coachteam3 = England |medaltemplates = }}
'''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.<ref name="garland2008">{{Citation|last1=Garland|first1=Chris|last2=Ryan|first2=James|last3=Leesdad|first3=Mark|title=A Life of Two Halves: The Chris Garland Story|publisher=Redcliffe|year=2008|isbn=978-1-906593-11-7}}</ref><ref name="telegraph170819">{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/netball/2019/08/17/exclusive-interview-england-netball-head-coach-jess-thirlby/|title=Exclusive interview: England Netball head coach Jess Thirlby on replacing Tracey Neville and why chocolate will be key to a happy household|publisher=www.telegraph.co.uk|accessdate=18 February 2020|date=17 August 2019}}</ref> 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.<ref name="telegraph170819"/><ref name="thecgf2002">{{cite web|url=https://thecgf.com/results/team/4198|title=Rugby Sevens Rugby Sevens - Men Manchester 2002|publisher=thecgf.com|accessdate=24 February 2020|date=17 August 2019|archive-date=24 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200224202349/https://thecgf.com/results/team/4198|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==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.<ref name="teambath200506"/><ref name="telegraph040501">{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/netball/3004739/Netball-Silly-name-brigade-get-Super-start.html|title=Netball: Silly name brigade get Super start|publisher=www.telegraph.co.uk|accessdate=18 February 2020|date=4 May 2001}}</ref><ref name="freelibrary250503">{{cite web|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Netball%3A+Tornadoes+put+wind+up+Hurricanes+as+Newton+has+a+real...-a0102255095|title=Netball: Tornadoes put wind up Hurricanes as Newton has a real stormer; Super Cup (Bath).|publisher=www.thefreelibrary.com|accessdate=3 March 2020|date=25 May 2003}}</ref><ref name="teambath140119"/><ref name=bbc260719/><ref name="womensportreport310807"/><ref name="express160508">{{cite web|url=https://www.express.co.uk/netball/44724/Team-Bath-names-new-coaching-line-up|title=Team Bath names new coaching line-up|publisher=www.express.co.uk|accessdate=21 February 2020|date=16 May 2008}}</ref>
===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.<ref name="teambath200506">{{cite web|url=http://www.teambath.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Team-Bath-Netball-2005-06-squad.jpg|title=2005–06 Team Bath squad|publisher=www.teambath.com|accessdate=18 February 2020|archive-date=10 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200110220040/https://www.teambath.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Team-Bath-Netball-2005-06-squad.jpg|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="telegraph170819"/><ref name="teambath140119"/><ref name=bbc260719/><ref name="telegraph280700">{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/netball/4762591/Netball-England-face-test-in-semi.html|title=Netball: England face test in semi|publisher=www.telegraph.co.uk|accessdate=21 February 2020|date=28 July 2000}}</ref><ref name="englandnetball260719"/><ref name="englandnetballthirlby"/><ref name="cgf270702">{{cite web|url=http://m2002.thecgf.com/Sports/Netball/News/default.asp?id=614&folder=Netball|title=England net win over Sri Lanka|publisher=thecgf.com|accessdate=5 May 2020|date=27 July 2002|archive-date=13 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210813155936/http://m2002.thecgf.com/Sports/Netball/News/default.asp?id=614&folder=Netball|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Coaching career== ===Celtic Dragons=== During the 2006–07 Netball Superleague season, Thirlby served as head coach of Celtic Dragons.<ref name="teambath140119">{{cite web|url=https://www.teambath.com/2019/01/14/jess-thirlby-netball-head-coach/|title=End of an era as Jess Thirlby announces Team Bath Netball departure after 20 successful years as player and coach|publisher=www.teambath.com|accessdate=20 February 2020|date=14 January 2019}}</ref><ref name="womensportreport310807"/><ref name="express160508"/><ref name="sportfocus111206">{{cite web|url=http://www.sportfocus.com/newspub/story.cfm?ID=21662|title=Inspired Abbott Fires Up Dragons|publisher=www.sportfocus.com|accessdate=24 February 2020|date=11 December 2006|archive-date=12 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220312091906/http://www.sportfocus.com/newspub/story.cfm?ID=21662|url-status=dead}}</ref>
===Team Bath=== During the 2007–08 Netball Superleague season, Thirlby served as an assistant coach to Jan Crabtree at Team Bath.<ref name="teambath140119"/><ref name="womensportreport310807">{{cite web|url=http://www.womensportreport.com/garland-joins-new-coaching-line-up/wn/78|title=Garland joins new coaching line-up for Superleague defence|publisher=www.womensportreport.com|accessdate=21 February 2020|date=31 August 2007}}</ref><ref name="express160508"/> 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.<ref name="teambath140119"/> Between 2015 and 2019, Thirlby served as Team Bath's director of netball.<ref name="teambath140119"/><ref name="teambath150915">{{cite web|url=https://netball.teambath.com/2015/09/15/anna-mayes-jess-thirlby-netball/|title=Former England coach Anna Mayes reignites Team Bath Netball coaching partnership with Jess Thirlby|publisher=www.teambath.com|accessdate=21 February 2020|date=15 September 2015|archive-date=21 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200221220144/https://netball.teambath.com/2015/09/15/anna-mayes-jess-thirlby-netball/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="skysports150119">{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/netball/news/12415/11608089/jess-thirlby-to-leave-team-bath|title=Jess Thirlby to leave Team Bath|publisher=www.skysports.com|accessdate=20 February 2020|date=15 January 2019}}</ref>
===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.<ref name="englandnetball260719"/><ref name="englandnetballthirlby"/><ref name="teambath150915"/><ref name=express030908>{{cite web|url=https://www.express.co.uk/netball/58822/U21-coach-Jess-Garland-talks-to-express-co-uk|title=U21 coach Jess Garland talks to express.co.uk|publisher=www.express.co.uk|accessdate=21 February 2020|date=3 September 2008}}</ref> In July 2019 Thirlby was appointed head coach of the senior England team, taking over from Tracey Neville.<ref name="telegraph170819"/><ref name=bbc260719>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/netball/49124263|title=Jess Thirlby named new head coach of England netball|publisher=www.bbc.co.uk|accessdate=21 February 2020|date=26 July 2019}}</ref><ref name="englandnetball260719">{{cite web|url=https://www.englandnetball.co.uk/jessthirlbyheadcoach/|title=England Netball secures Jess Thirlby as the new Head Coach|publisher=www.englandnetball.co.uk|accessdate=21 February 2020|date=26 July 2019}}</ref><ref name="englandnetballthirlby">{{cite web|url=https://www.englandnetball.co.uk/staff/jess-thirlby/|title=Jess Thirlby|publisher=www.englandnetball.co.uk|accessdate=21 February 2020}}</ref><ref name="teambath260719">{{cite web|url=https://netball.teambath.com/2019/07/26/jess-thirlby-england-roses-head-coach/|title=Former Blue & Gold player and coach Jess Thirlby named as new England Netball Head Coach|publisher=www.teambath.com|accessdate=21 February 2020|date=26 July 2019}}</ref><ref name="englandnetball171019">{{cite web|url=https://www.englandnetball.co.uk/jess-thirlby-reflects-roses-tenure/|title=Jess Thirlby reflects on her time so far as Head Coach|publisher=www.englandnetball.co.uk|accessdate=21 February 2020|date=17 October 2019}}</ref> Under Thirlby's guidance, England have finished as runners up at the 2023 Netball World Cup<ref name="guardian060823">{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/aug/06/australia-win-netball-world-cup-for-12th-time-after-dominant-win-over-england|title=Australia dominate England to win Netball World Cup for 12th time|publisher=www.theguardian.com|date=6 August 2023|access-date=18 March 2024}}</ref><ref name="skysports070823">{{Cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/netball/news/12415/12934934/netball-world-cup-australia-beat-england-to-deny-vitality-roses-a-first-title|title=Netball World Cup: Australia beat England in final to deny Vitality Roses a first title|publisher=www.skysports.com|date=7 August 2023|access-date=18 March 2024}}</ref> and won the 2021<ref name=en240921>{{cite web|url=https://www.englandnetball.co.uk/match-reaction-guthrie-mentor-thirlby-series-win/|title=Match Reaction: Guthrie, Mentor and Thirlby on series win|publisher=www.englandnetball.co.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210924163810/https://www.englandnetball.co.uk/match-reaction-guthrie-mentor-thirlby-series-win/|archive-date=24 September 2021|date=24 September 2021|access-date=16 December 2023}}</ref> and 2024 Taini Jamison Trophy Series'<ref name="skysports021024">{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/netball/news/12415/13226362/vitality-roses-in-new-zealand-england-seal-taini-jamison-trophy-with-another-stunning-win|title=Vitality Roses in New Zealand: England seal Taini Jamison Trophy with another stunning win|publisher=www.skysports.com|date=2 October 2024|access-date=4 November 2024}}</ref> and the 2025 Netball Nations Cup.<ref name="skysports090225">{{Cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/netball/news/12415/13306166/netball-nations-cup-2025-england-claim-first-tournament-triumph-after-final-win-over-south-africa|title=Netball Nations Cup 2025: England claim first tournament triumph after final win over South Africa|publisher=www.skysports.com|date=9 February 2025|access-date=18 February 2025}}</ref> In March 2026, Thirlby stepped down as England head coach with immediate effect and four months before the 2026Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2026-03-17 |title=Jess Thirlby steps down as England Netball head coach |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/netball/articles/c2e489e287eo |access-date=2026-03-17 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":0" />
{| class="wikitable collapsible" ! Tournaments ! Place |- |2019 South Africa England netball series<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/netball/news/12415/11855809/england-head-coach-jess-thirlby-reveals-14-player-squad-to-face-south-africa|title=England Roses head coach Jess Thirlby reveals squad to face South Africa|work=Sky Sports|date=7 November 2019}}</ref>||1st |- |2020 Netball Nations Cup<ref name="en231219">{{Cite web|url=https://www.englandnetball.co.uk/vitality-netball-nations-cup-squad/|title=Vitality Netball Nations Cup squad revealed|publisher=www.englandnetball.co.uk|access-date=13 January 2025|date=23 December 2019}}</ref>||3rd |- |2021 Netball Legends Series<ref name=bbc220121>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/netball/55771932|title=Netball Legend Series: England beat Superleague All Stars 67-44|publisher=www.bbc.com|date=22 January 2021}}</ref>||1st |- |2021 Taini Jamison Trophy Series<ref name=en240921/>||1st |- |2021 England Jamaica netball series<ref name=en111121>{{cite web| url=https://www.englandnetball.co.uk/vitality-roses-reunited-series-squad/|title=Vitality Roses squad revealed for Vitality Roses Reunited Series|publisher=www.englandnetball.co.uk|date=11 November 2021|accessdate=23 November 2021}}</ref>||1st |- |2022 Netball Quad Series<ref name="skysports200122">{{cite news| url=https://www.skysports.com/netball/news/12415/12520125/netball-quad-series-englands-vitality-roses-beaten-by-australia-in-final-at-copper-box|title=Netball Quad Series: England's Vitality Roses beaten by Australia in final at Copper Box|publisher=www.skysports.com|date=20 January 2022|accessdate=19 January 2025}}</ref>||2nd |- |2022 Commonwealth Games<ref name="skysports070822">{{cite news|url=https://www.skysports.com/netball/news/12415/12667780/commonwealth-games-england-suffer-agonising-loss-to-new-zealand-in-bronze-medal-match|title=Commonwealth Games: England suffer agonising loss to New Zealand in bronze medal match|publisher=www.skysports.com|date=7 August 2022|access-date=16 January 2023}}</ref>||3rd |- |2022 England Uganda netball series<ref name="bbc091022">{{cite web |title=England 64-51 Uganda: Roses complete perfect series |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/netball/63193466|publisher=www.bbc.com|access-date=3 November 2022 |date=9 October 2022}}</ref>||1st |- |2022 Australia England netball series<ref name="bbc031122">{{cite web |title=Australia 56-48 England: Roses lose series after second Test defeat |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/netball/63445186|publisher=www.bbc.com|access-date=3 November 2022|date=30 October 2022}}</ref>||2nd |- |2023 England Jamaica netball series<ref name="bbc140123">{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/netball/64243786| title=England 58-61 Jamaica: Jhaniele Fowler shines to set up series decider|publisher=www.bbc.com|date=14 January 2023|accessdate=15 January 2023}}</ref>||1st |- |2023 Netball Quad Series<ref name=bbc250123>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/netball/64403746|title=Netball Quad Series: England finish third with victory over hosts South Africa|publisher=www.bbc.co.uk|access-date=20 March 2020|date=25 January 2023}}</ref>||3rd |- |2023 Netball World Cup<ref name="guardian060823"/><ref name="skysports070823"/>||{{silver02}} |- |2024 Netball Nations Cup<ref name=skysports290124>{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/netball/news/12415/13059426/jess-thirlby-england-were-outsmarted-by-australia-in-69-49-nations-cup-final|title=Jess Thirlby: England were outsmarted by Australia in 69-49 Nations Cup final|publisher=www.skysports.com|access-date=9 February 2024|date=29 January 2024}}</ref>||2nd |- |2024 Australia England netball series<ref name="skysports250924">{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/netball/news/12415/13221722/australia-69-56-england-diamonds-end-roses-hopes-of-historic-series-win-with-victory-in-deciding-test|title=Australia 69-56 England: Diamonds end Roses' hopes of historic series win with victory in deciding Test|publisher=www.skysports.com|date=25 September 2024|access-date=8 November 2024}}</ref>||2nd |- |2024 Taini Jamison Trophy Series<ref name="skysports021024"/>||1st |- |2025 Netball Nations Cup<ref name="skysports090225"/>||1st |- |2025 England New Zealand netball series<ref name=skysports191125>{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/netball/news/12415/13472943/vitality-roses-england-fall-to-55-49-loss-against-new-zealand-as-silver-ferns-win-vitality-international-series-decider|title=Vitality Roses: England fall to 55-49 loss against New Zealand as Silver Ferns win Vitality International series decider|publisher=www.skysports.com|date=19 November 2025|access-date=23 November 2025}}</ref>||2nd |- |}
==Honours== ===Player=== ;Team Bath *'''Netball Superleague''' **''Winners'': 2005–06: '''1''' *'''Super Cup''' **''Winners'': 2004: '''1'''
===Head coach=== ;England *'''Netball World Cup''' **''Runners up'': 2023 *'''Taini Jamison Trophy''' **''Winners'': 2021, 2024 *'''Netball Nations Cup''' **''Winners'': 2025 ;Team Bath *'''Netball Superleague''' **''Winners'': 2008–09, 2009–10, 2013: '''3'''
==References== {{reflist|3}}
{{Team Bath (netball)}} {{England national netball team}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thirlby, Jess}} Category:1979 births Category:Living people Category:English netball players Category:Netball players at the 2002 Commonwealth Games Category:Commonwealth Games netball players for England Category:Team Bath netball players Category:AENA Super Cup players Category:Netball Superleague players Category:Netball Superleague coaches Category:Sportspeople from Bristol Category:English netball coaches Category:England national netball team coaches Category:Team Bath (netball) coaches Category:21st-century English sportswomen Category:England international netball players