NETBALL
SCOTTISH NETBALL WIN SUPERLEAGUE BID
Team Northumbria already has two leading Scottish players
By Emily Garnham for express.co.uk
SCOTTISH NETBALL has won a bid to enter a team for next season's Superleague, it was announced today.
The Co-operative Netball Superleague announced a new addition to the 2008/9 line up today after a Glasgow-based bid was accepted by England Netball.
The Scottish team will be the ninth to enter England's elite domestic competition which already includes seven franchise-based English teams and an invitational side from Wales.
The ninth franchise, as yet unnamed, will be invited on a similar basis
to the Welsh Celtic Dragons and their line up will feature Scottish
internationals at senior and U21 level.
Brian McKelvie of Netball Scotland hopes the Superleague will provide "a sterner competitive
challenge" for Scottish netballers as they work towards the Commonwealth Games in 2014.
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It's an exciting time for Scottish netball
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"This exposure to
different playing styles and more experienced internationals can only
benefit future Scottish teams as we build towards 2014. We are
delighted to be included in the league and look forward to our first
game with relish,” he said.
McKelvie added: “In order to become increasingly competitive in the world arena,
Scottish netballers need exposure to more experienced internationals,
from whom they can learn and develop.
Scottish players captain
Lesley MacDonald and Clare Cooper have already participated as overseas players for
Team Northumbria during the past two seasons.
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Scottish netballers need exposure to experienced internationals from whom they can learn and develop.
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Brian McKelvie, Netball Scotland
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England Netball’s Chief Executive Paul Clark hopes the addition will have a positive effect on the future of netball in Britain.
“We are delighted to include this new franchise since it will bring new competitive challenges and commercial expertise to the competition," he said.
"The opportunity the franchise has to use Superleague to build towards the Commonwealth Games in 2014 can only be good for netball as a whole, and will help us see the 2014 Games as almost a “home” event!"
He added: "With the 2007-8 season reaching a climax with the Grand Final this weekend, it is a great time to look forward to next season and I know the players involved in the competition will relish the chance to take on their Scottish neighbours in competition next season.”
Brian McKelvie announced that Netball Scotland will now advertise for a full time national coach who will take overall responsibility for the new Superleague team. Further details will be available shortly through the Netball
Scotland website.
SUPERLEAGUE
The Superleague, which runs from October to April, provides regular high-level competitive opportunities for elite athletes of all ages on a weekly basis.
Since it's introduction in 2005 England’s netballers have taken bronze at the 2006 Commonwealth Games and are now ranked third in the world following a win over then reigning World Champions New Zealand in May 2007.
The league is televised on a weekly basis by Sky Sports as part of a three year agreement which started in 2007, and also has a significant impact at grass roots levels, with franchises working closely with local communities and schools to encourage increased netball participation.
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