Crewe Lyceum’s VME, Leanne Palin, tells Ensemble about a very exciting trip to the USA this month.

As well as a very busy role as Venue Marketing Executive at Crewe Lyceum Theatre, I have also had the great honour of running a little community cheerleading club called Matrix that I set up exactly 20 years ago, to the month, back in May 2005.

Over the last two decades, thousands of young people have participated in this fantastic team sport and competed all over the country and abroad, and I am extremely proud of the club’s achievements and what Matrix represents to the community of Crewe.

2025 was always going to be a special year for myself, the coaching team, the athletes and the club, but it became extra special when my 14-year-old son Coby earned himself a spot on Team England and was chosen to represent the nation at the World Cheerleading Championships in Orlando, Florida.

After months of relentless hours of training and driving halfway across the country and back, we travelled along with the rest of the National team to the USA, to compete at ESPN Wide World of Sports.

Coby was also chosen as the England flag bearer at the prestigious Opening Ceremony – streamed across the World on the Olympic Channel.

After two days of fierce competition, the team won Silver! The immense pride, as a coach, but more importantly as a mum, is nothing I have ever felt and probably won’t ever again! It was an absolutely unbelievable experience and the best way to celebrate all the years of dedication and passion to this incredible sport.

The squad are all now looking forward to performing at the beautiful Lyceum Theatre in June for our 20^th Anniversary show to truly end the 20^th season with a bang!