Profiles

This season Jonny Knickerson is Nottingham Korfball Club's top scorer, with 50 goals in 12 games.

His goals have helped the team to their best ever finish, ending up third in the National Premier League.

"We've really enjoyed this season. Our success is due to the hours of training we've put in and obviously we've got a lot of England players playing for us."

Nottingham have now qualified for the UEFA Shield and will compete against some of the best teams in the world in 2008/09.

Success

Jonny started playing the sport at the age of nine, when he was introduced to the game at school. By 14 had been scouted for England.

The 19-year-old from Compton Acres is dedicated to his sport. Every week he drives to London to train with the national squad, funding his own travel when selected to play abroad with the England U23s.

His ambition is to represent his country on the biggest stage.

"I'd like to play for the senior squad in a couple of years time and represent England in the World Championships.

"You'll never play anything like korfball."

The game

Korfball is the world's only true mixed team sport.

The principles are similar to basketball, netball and handball but the unique defending and mixed sex rules make for a much more varied game at a much faster pace.

It's played in over 50 countries world wide.

The sport was invented by a Dutch school teacher in 1903 who wanted his pupils to be able to play a team sport together.

Play korfball

Nottingham Korfball Club was founded in 1993 by a group of friends from the University of Nottingham.

They train regularly at the Rushcliffe Arena.

The club are always interested in attracting new players.