NNI Board Appoints New Director
The Netball NI Board are pleased to announce appointments are underway following a successful recruitment process. We are delighted to welcome Nicola McCarthy, to join the Board of Directors commencing her role in January 2025.
An experienced sport broadcast journalist with over 10 years working in the industry, covering a host of sports and sporting competitions, Nicola is skilled across traditional and new media, digital and social media, communications and public relations as well as content creation among others.
Currently studying a masters in Sport Directorship through Manchester Metropolitan University, Nicola will bring her leadership skills, understanding of what makes an effective team, personal reflection skills, creativity and innovation skills, as well as a deep understanding of effective governance to the Netball NI Board.
I am delighted to be on board, I have a genuine love of and wide interest across many sports and I’m really looking forward to getting started and contributing what I can to netball, a sport that has been very close to my heart. Nicola McCarthy
We are delighted to welcome Nicola to the Netball NI board, her experience and knowledge of sport is vast. She is a passionate advocate of participation in sport and I know she will be a great asset for NNI! Helen Stirling, Chair
Nicola takes up her position in January 2025 and we know our members will give her a warm welcome to the netball family.
NNI Board appoints new Director
The Netball NI Board are pleased to announce appointments are underway following a successful recruitment process. First to be appointed, we are delighted to welcome, Mr. Michael Gibbs, to join the Board of Directors commencing his role in December 2024.
Specialising in long-term financial management and planning, Michael has extensive experience working across the public sector with individuals and groups to design, improve and repair attitudes, relationships and strategic alliances.
A senior trainer in conflict resolution with a diploma in executive coaching, Michael also supports businesses to develop communication skills that support operational success.
Michael Gibbs,
“I am honoured to accept this opportunity to contribute to the Netball community and support the growth and empowerment of girls and women in Northern Ireland. I look forward to using my experience to help drive the organisation’s strategic objectives and to work alongside such a dedicated team. This role resonates strongly with my commitment to community development across all communities in Northern Ireland, and I am excited to support Netball NI in delivering its mission.”
Helen Stirling, Chair
‘We are delighted to welcome Michael to the Netball NI Board. We believe his experience in strategic roles, as well as background in governance, change management and communication will be a real asset to Netball NI.’
Michael takes up his position in December 2024 and we know our members will give him a warm welcome to the netball family.
Kukri become the first Title Partner of Netball NI Premier League
Netball NI are excited to announce, long term kit partner, Kukri Sports, are once again showing their support for our sport by becoming the first title partner of the highest league in our domestic competition. The Premier league sees many of our Warriors, Emerging Warriors and U21 athletes competing against one another for their club teams every Friday night in Lisburn Racquets Club.
Current holders Belfast Ladies will be pushing hard to retain the title, while Kingsway will be aiming to continue the form that saw them pip Belfast Ladies in a thrilling Cup Final last season that went to extra time! Newly promoted Valley return to the Premier League joining Donaghadee, Crumlin, Larkfield, Belfast Ladies 2 and Kingsway 2nds in what will be a hotly contested season of top quality matches.
Kukri Sports County Manager, Neil Patterson had this to say about the new Premier League Partnership:
“Kukri Sports is delighted to come on board as the title partner for the Netball NI Premier League. As well as being long term partners to the Warriors and NNI representative teams, we have been thrilled to supply many Clubs and Schools at grassroot level. We look forward to supporting all of our clubs during another exciting season!” Neil Patterson, Country Manager for N.I. and R.O.I. Kukri Sports
Netball NI Young Ambassadors Programme
The Netball NI Young Ambassadors Programme is a 6-month-long opportunity (October to March) for anyone to get involved in sports and Good Relations Leadership and Development. It is open to all between the ages of 14 and 19 (age by application close date) and aims to involve all successful applicants across Northern Ireland. The programme aims to build and develop valuable life skills in participants by participation in sports specific and Good Relations based activities addressing areas such as mental health and well-being, current range of communities in NI, youth specific issues, opportunities to form a voice on behalf of peers This is while exploring all elements of netball and other sports to widen experience and learning
We aim to have 2 groups covering a geographic area each to slightly lessen travel time for in-person activities whilst engaging every area of NI.
What is included:
-Intro to Coaching Netball Award or Foundation Umpire Award
-Club Captains Leadership Workshop
-Good Relations and Mental Health and wellbeing workshops
-Fitness and skills session with high performance and community coaches in netball as well as additional sports
– A voice in the development of netball
-Support to set up a community event as final part of the programme
If Successful, what is expected of you as a participant? (October ‘24 to Mar’25)
- Attend 1 Youth Forum for young ambassadors online a month, sessions will be between 1 and 2 hours
- Willingness and ability to travel (or get transported to) to monthly youth ambassador development days- 6 in total across NI plus local event activity
- Participation as a coach or leader at an NNI led event, camp or Fun day.
- Permission from parent or guardian to participate and be involved in photos and media content.
- Completion of anonymous good relations questionnaires Pre, Post and during programme
How do I apply?
Send a written application or simply record a 1–2-minute video answering the following questions-
- Tell us who you are, what age you are, the city/town you live in and tell us briefly about your netball or sporting journey
- When did you start playing, who do you currently play for? Tell us your playing history.
- Why do you love netball or sport?
- Why do you want to be involved in the NNI Young Ambassador’s Programme
- What skills and qualities can you bring to the role of young ambassador
- If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
Send your videos or written applications to Lisa Rickett via email on headofdevelopment@netballni.org OR send Videos via Whatsapp on 07850102761 CLOSING DATE – Wednesday 9th October 12 noon
The Inaugural Celtic Cup to be Hosted in Glasgow at the iconic Emirates Arena this November
Mark your calendars for a new, thrilling netball event coming this November!
Running from the 7th to 10th of November 2024, teams from Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and Zimbabwe will compete for the new Celtic Cup in a showcase of elite-level, competitive netball.
The event is designed for both seasoned fans and novices, providing the opportunity to see international netball at its best. The tournament will follow a round-robin format from Thursday to Saturday, with the finals being held on Sunday, November 10.
Tickets
Your exclusive member pre-sale ticket window opens at 9 am today (13th September) giving you the chance to secure the best seats in the house for the event before general sale opens at 12 pm.
Tickets now on sale – click here
The Celtic Cup
The Celtic Cup has been created by Netball Northern Ireland, Netball Scotland, and Wales Netball to provide the best competitive tournament for athletes and spectators alike outside of the World Cup and Commonwealth Games. It is intended that the competition will grow in the coming years to include more invitational teams.
Event Details:
Dates: November 7-10, 2024
Venue: Emirates Arena, Glasgow
Teams: Welsh Feathers (Wales, ranked 9th), Scottish Thistles (Scotland, ranked 10th), Northern Ireland Warriors (Northern Ireland, ranked 11th) and Zimbabwe Gems (ranked 13th)
Why You Can’t Miss This:
🌟 Elite-level netball at its finest
🔥 Four days of non-stop action
🌍 International rivalry and sportsmanship
🏅 A chance to see history in the making
Join us at the Celtic Cup to experience a weekend of high-energy and strategic gameplay, as we continue building on this chapter of Netball in Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland U17 & U19 National Academy Selection
Netball Northern Ireland are delighted to announce the recently selected U17 & U19 National Academy.
45 athletes have been selected across the two Academies for the 2024-25 season, led by returning Head Coaches, Jenny Clayton (U17), and Andi Magee (U19). These Academies will be working towards U19 Europe Netball December 2024, and U17 Europe Netball March 2025.
The Academies include 10 athletes who currently sit on the U21 and/or Emerging Warriors programme, and 11 athletes who have progressed from the Northern Ireland U15 Regional Academy, along with many other talented athletes who are new or returning to the programme.
Over the coming months, the Academies will attend regular training camps, whilst pushing themselves in competition to develop connections on and off the court.
U17 Head Coach, Jenny Clayton, commented
I’d like to congratulate the athletes selected to this year’s Northern Ireland U17 National Academy. It’s great to have some returning athletes and we are also excited to welcome new athletes. Fi Toner and I are looking forward to working with this group as they develop through the NI pathway.
U19 Head Coach, Andi Magee, commented
After a rigorous and thorough trailing period, we are delighted with the announcement of the Northern Ireland U19 National Academy. Congratulations to those athletes who have been successful. This was a very difficult selection process, which shows just how much depth we have in Northern Ireland. Shaunagh and I are looking forward to working with this group of athletes.
Northern Ireland Under 17 National Academy 2024-2025
| Name | Club | Position |
| Anna Owen | Portadown Netball Club | Midcourt |
| Anna Rice | Crumlin Community Netball Club | Circle Attack |
| Aoibheann Donnelly | Crumlin Community Netball Club | Midcourt |
| Aiobheann Monaghan | Crumlin Community Netball Club | Midcourt |
| Aoife Mackle | Kingsway Netball Club | Midcourt |
| Aoife Wolfe | Belfast Ladies Netball Club | Circle Defence |
| Chloe Bunting | Stratford Thunderbirds | Circle Attack |
| Ema Jones | Crumlin Community Netball Club | Circle Defence |
| Emilia Gordon | Crumlin Community Netball Club | Circle Attack |
| Evie McCafferty | Clann Eireann Netball Club | Circle Defence |
| Faye Pearson | Seven Towers Netball Club | Midcourt |
| Grace Gordon | Belfast Ladies Netball Club | Circle Attack |
| Jemima Watson | Westside Netball Club | Midcourt |
| Kara Scott | Louth Netball Club/Aspire Netball Academy | Circle Attack |
| Keri Gray | Crumlin Community Netball Club | Circle Defence |
| Kiana Forde | MK Dons Netball Club | Circle Attack |
| Lydia Grant | Crumlin Community Netball Club | Midcourt |
| Maisie Rainer | Holywood Netball Club | Circle Defence |
| Marleigh Coster | Altrincham Netball Club | Midcourt |
| Matilda McCartney | Kingsway Netball Club | Circle Defence |
| Orlaigh McMahon | Belfast Ladies Netball Club | Midcourt |
| Ruby Tolland | Holywood Netball Club | Midcourt |
| Sienna McCartney | Crumlin Community Netball Club | Circle Defence |
| Sylvie Burrows | Tor Knights Netball Club | Circle Attack |
U17 tracked athletes
| Name | Club | Position |
| Isabella McWilliams | Kingsway Netball Club | Midcourt |
| Jessica Hotchkiss | Crumlin Community Netball Club | Midcourt |
*clubs as per 23/24 season
U17 National Academy Management
Head Coach Jenny Clayton
Assistant Coach Fionnuala Toner
Team Manager Charlotte Elliott
Northern Ireland Under 19 National Academy 2024-25
| Name | Club | Position |
| Alice Black | Kent County Netball Club | Circle Defence |
| Annie Elliott | Banbridge Netball Club | Midcourt |
| Bryony O’Hare | Exeter University Netball Club | Midcourt |
| Emily Brownleader | Royals Windsor/Surrey Storm NPL | Midcourt |
| Erin Gray | Crumlin Community Netball Club | Midcourt |
| Eva Scott | Antrim Ladies Netball Club | Circle Defence |
| Eva Wilson | Belfast Ladies Netball Club | Circle Attack |
| Faye Kelly | Crumlin Community Netball Club | Circle Defence |
| Georgia Miller | Valley Netball Club | Midcourt |
| Isabella Paas | Hatfield Netball Club/University of Leicester Netball Club | Circle Defence |
| Joy Ebbinghaus | Donaghadee Netball Club | Circle Attack |
| Katie Allen | Seven Towers | Circle Defence |
| Katie Irvine | Laganside Netball Club | Circle Defence |
| Lucy Ly | Westside Netball Club | Midcourt |
| Matilda Moore | Milfield School Netball/Shorwell Netball Club | Circle Attack |
| Mia Law | Kingsway Netball Club | Circle Defence |
| Ruby Gajree | Notthinghamshire Sirens | Midcourt |
| Willow Dryden | Telstars Netball Club | Circle Attack |
| Zoe Maynard | Mavericks Netball Club | Midcourt |
*Clubs as per 23/24 season
U19 National Academy Management
Head Coach Andi Magee
Assistant Coach Shaunagh Craig
Team Manager Caroline Davis
NI Warriors Squad for Paradise Series Update
Sheonah Forbes has named her leadership team ahead of the Paradise Series vs the Bajan Gems at the end of the month, as well as adding a 14th player to the squad.
Caroline O’Hanlon has been named as Captain, with Fi Toner as Vice. Michelle Magee and Orlaith Rogers are also continuing in leadership roles, after a successful campaign at Europe Netball May 2024.
Recently named U21 National Squad Captain, Orla McGeough, has also been elevated into the travelling squad.
Sheonah Forbes – NI Warriors Head Coach
I am delighted we have been able to add Orla into the squad travelling to Barbados as well as showing our commitment to developing people in leadership roles each time we compete internationally, now and beyond.
The squad will travel to Barbados on the 19th August, ahead of the first Test Match on Saturday 24th August.
Test Match 1 – Saturday 24th August 1am UK time
Test Match 2 – Monday 26th August 1am UK time
Test Match 3 – Tuesday 27th August 1am UK time
Northern Ireland U21 National Squad Selected for WYCQ 2024
The Northern Ireland U21 National Squad selection has been made, ahead of the World Youth Cup Qualifiers in September 2024.
The Qualifiers will take place in Cardiff, Wales on the 24th-29th September. Northern Ireland will compete against Isle of Man, Republic of Ireland, Scotland, UAE and Wales in a bid to qualify for the World Cup in 2025.
Sachel Grant, U21 Head Coach, expressed her delight with this squad selection.
Congratulations to all selected for the squad and the reserves. I am very excited to lead this team at the WYCQ. These athletes along with those not selected at this time have pushed each other over the last 7 months and have made this decision very hard. The make up of the squad is exciting with some serious ball winners, shooters who are confident to go to post and mid courters who are strong and dynamic. The mix of youth and experience is also key to our squad selection. Our aim is to qualify for the World Cup and this squad shows clearly our intentions.
Under 21 National Squad:
| Name | Club | Position |
| Alex Martin | Concordia Netball Club/NE Phoenix | Circle Attack |
| Alice O’Brien | Exeter Netball Club/Exeter University Netball Club | Midcourt |
| Ana Mulholland (VC) | Crumlin Community Netball Club | Circle Defence |
| Evelyn McCagherty | Central Warriors NPL/Weston Park Blades Netball Club | Midcourt |
| Jill Smiley (VC) | YMCA Magic NC/Leeds University Netball Club | Circle Attack |
| Joy Ebbinghaus | Donaghadee Netball Club | Circle Attack |
| Lisa Carlin | NE Phoenix/Northumbria University Netball Club | Circle Defence |
| Mia Lanigan | YWCA Bury/Leeds Rhinos | Midcourt |
| Mica Quinn | Central Warriors NPL | Circle Defence |
| Orla McGeough (C) | Manchester Thunder NPL | Midcourt |
| Rosa McCloskey | Kingsway Netball Club | Circle Attack |
| Tillie Irvine | Saracens Mavericks NPL/Hertfordshire University Netball Club | Circle Defence |
Reserves:
Anna Rice (Crumlin Community Netball Club)
Erin Young (Belfast Ladies Netball Club)
Zoe Maynard (Team Bath, Mavericks Netball Club)
*Clubs as per the 2023/24 season
Management
Head Coach – Sachel Grant
Assistant Coach – Lisa Bowman
Team Manager – Charlotte Elliott
Physio – Gavin Noble
PA – Lauren Webb
Support the U21 Squad here !