Jessica Orzel always has plenty to say for herself when she walks onto a netball court.

By her own admission the Winchcombe player is very competitive and she likes to make sure that no stone is left unturned in the pursuit of victory.

“Yes, I can be quite loud,” she chuckled. “I play goalkeep so you can see the court in front of you. I do tell the other players what to do even though I’m not captain.”

At 6ft 1in, the 21-year-old is the ideal height to play at the back. She was part of a team that won promotion from Gloucestershire League Division Five last season – “finally,” she laughed – and is hopeful that the club will be able to mount another promotion challenge this time around.

So, who are the players Winchcombe are looking to this season if they are to enjoy back-to-back promotions?

“Goal attack Lauren Stemp,” said Jessica, before adding with a laugh, “she’s the biggest ball hog you could ever imagine. You don’t get the ball back… we tell her every week!

“Mary Burke is in her first season with us and has a lot of potential. And then there’s Natalie Smith who is our goal shoot or wing attack. She is a very good court player and has an eye for a pass.”

Jessica has been at the club since she was 14 and also doubles up as the club’s secretary and fixtures secretary.

“This season should be easier on the organisational side because now we’ve been promoted we play all our matches at a central venue which is Bentham,” she said.

“But I still have to organise an umpire. That sometimes takes 50 calls which for a 60-minute game can be quite stressful.”

Jessica played for the second team when she first joined the club in 2010. These days they run only one team but there is still plenty of support for a club that were formed in the 1970s.

One of the founders was Jessica’s nan, Sue Cull, who still watches her granddaughter play occasionally.

So, does she have any words of advice for Jessica?

“She tells me that if she were younger she could do it better than I do,” laughs Jessica.

And Jessica doesn’t get too much support for her netball from her mum Jackie and dad Paul either.

“They don’t really understand it,” she chuckled. “Mum used to play hockey for Winchcombe and dad still plays cricket for Winchcombe. He also used to play football for Winchcombe.

“I tell him that netball is a much more skilful game than football. I tell him that 22 men can play a game of football for 90 minutes and not score a goal but in netball seven girls can score 74 goals in 60 minutes!”

And while dad and daughter may not see eye to eye on the relative merits of football and netball, they do at least share a passion for cricket.

“Dad is captain of Winchcombe’s 2nd XI,” said Jessica, “and mum and I do the teas. I’m also the team’s scorer and this season I scored his first ever 100.”

While that was an innings to remember for dad, Jessica’s netball is set to run and run.