Growing up I had always been sporty - I just wanted to be playing sport, any sport - sport sport sport...and particularly basketball! And, after ignoring all the warnings, I was devastated when the Consultant finally said "You won't be able to do anything that involves running or jumping anymore." I had Grade 4 osteo arthritis in both knees.
My entire sense of self came crashing down around my ears and I fell into a deep depression. I just couldn't understand a life which didn't involve sport - and didn't realise, at the time, that there were options!!
After a while, I found out about wheelchair basketball (which had a fairly low profile at the time)...but I lived in Cardiff and there wasn't a team in Wales.
After some procrastination, I eventually made the journey to the nearest club (in Bristol), luckily the coach spotted me cowering in the doorway and, before I could change my mind and leave, he sat me in a chair - and the next hour changed my life!! And now I LOVE making that happen for other people!!
After that fateful day in Bristol, I enjoyed ten years playing international wheelchair basketball and was lucky enough to travel the world and gain over 125 caps whilst wearing a "Great Britain" vest. Being an athlete at the Athens and Beijing Paralympics was the most incredible honour.
During those years I immersed myself in wheelchair basketball at the highest levels. I moved to a London club but I was working full time in Cardiff, so I was wearing grooves in the M4 on a weekly basis and wondering why there were no wheelchair basketball clubs nearer home.
In 2002, the local disability sport development officer (my friend, Jo Coates-McGrath) and I began a small wheelchair basketball club in Cardiff and now the CELTS has become a thriving and vibrant Club with opportunities for players of all abilities.
I was always involved in coaching at CELTS but, since retiring from GB basketball in 2011, I have focused on coaching, passing on what I've learned and giving those around me the opportunity to be the best they can be.
I quickly completed Grade 1 and 2 Coaching qualifications and in 2015 I became the second coach in the UK to gain the coveted Grade 3 qualification.
I now coach the CELTS Division 1 team and the Welsh U23 team. 2015 was an incredible year in both respects, both the CELTS and the Welsh team had entirely undefeated seasons (to gain promotion to Division 1 and win the Celtic Cup respectively).
I have learned more about this wonderful sport as a coach than I ever did as a player. I've also learned a lot about myself and I'm now constantly looking for ways to improve, both myself and anyone else who wants to do the same. I love seeing people develop - whether that's as simple as improving their confidence, scoring their first basket or pulling on an international shirt for the first time. I still feel like I'm at the beginning of my basketball journey and I'm really looking forward to what's around the next corner.
When I first started playing, it's fair to say that Wheelchair Basketball, like most sports, was still dominated by the men's game...there were few women playing (myself included) in club's that were full of men and there were no female coaches. But times have changed and I am pleased to say that British Wheelchair Basketball has been proactive in its approach to women's wheelchair basketball.
There is now a thriving Women's national league and a number of top quality female coaches around the UK.
There is always room for more improvement in promoting women's sport and women's involvement in sport in all capacities and one day, I hope we will have enough female players at CELTS to field a women's league team.
For any women reading this (thank you for persisting this far!), if you're thinking about getting involved in any sport - whether as a player, a volunteer, an official or a coach, my advice is DO IT!! Don't let anything stop you having a go...you don't know what you're capable of and it will reward you with some incredible experiences and opportunities!
Gender parity is an issue for everyone throughout society and affects every aspects of our lives. I believe all of us have a responsibility to promote parity wherever we can. On International Women's Day 2016, I pledge to support any women who want to get involved with wheelchair basketball or coaching more widely.
By Caroline Matthews
Celts and Wales U23 Wheelchair Basketball coach
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