Mary French
English netball player, coach, umpire and administrator
About Mary French
Lived 1926 – 2016 (aged 89). Mary French was a British.
Playing career Early years As a schoolgirl, French helped pioneer netball in Wales. Mary Datchelor School, including French, was evacuated to Llanelli for the duration of World War II. One of French's PE teachers, Marion Morton, helped form a small committee to organise netball matches, some of which featured French. This committee later became the Wales Netball Association. In 1945 she began representing Surrey County as a goalkeeper.
Coaching career England Between 1967 and 1975, French served as head coach of England, including at the 1967, 1971 and 1975 World Netball Championships. In 1975, she guided England to second place. Tournaments Place
1975 World Netball Championships
Wales Between 1984 and 1986, French served as Wales head coach.
Honours Individual Awards
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Important facts
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Mary French's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Mary French?
English netball player, coach, umpire and administrator
When was Mary French born?
Mary French was born on 13 February 1926.
When did Mary French die?
Mary French died on 15 January 2016.
What nationality was Mary French?
Mary French was British.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: Mary French (netball)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Mary French. https://biography.guide/mary-french-1926/
MLA: "Mary French." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/mary-french-1926/.
Chicago: "Mary French." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/mary-french-1926/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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