At school, I played netball a few times and really enjoyed it, but my main focus was always on dance and gymnastics. I never imagined netball would one day play such a big role in my life.
That all changed while I was working as a Recruitment Consultant at The Synergy Group. One day, I interviewed a candidate who happened to run a netball club called the Highbury Groovers, based in Islington. She told me all about the club and mentioned they were looking for players, so I decided to give it a go. Within weeks, I was on court, training every Wednesday and playing league matches every Thursday!
I loved it but there was one problem, I was terrible! The learning curve was steep, but I stuck with it. Over time, things began to click. We entered local tournaments, went on weekend tours, and even brought home the odd trophy. I’d officially caught the netball bug.
I set up a team at work and we entered the Corporate Games in Newcastle. We played every week in the City Lunch Time League at St Botolph’s, and in the Evening League at Old Street. I wanted to get more involved, so I decided to qualify as an umpire. I earned my C Award in 2006, met some incredible friends, new clients and even discovered a love for running, road biking and snowboarding!
In 2007, I joined Cumberland Netball Club and started playing in the North London and Middlesex Leagues. I also became the regular umpire for the club’s Premier Team, and with the support of England Netball and some amazing mentors I gained my B Award in 2010 and then my A Award in 2014.
Off the court, I joined the club committee – first as Social Secretary, then Umpire Secretary, and later as Club Chair from 2014 to 2017. Those years taught me so much about teamwork, leadership and community.
After moving to South London in 2012, I couldn’t bring myself to leave Cumberland. So instead, I proposed setting up a new squad and that’s how Cumberland South began, playing in the Kingston District and Surrey Netball Leagues. We’re still going strong today!
‘What started as a few casual games turned into a life-changing journey in leadership, community, and sport.’
In 2024, something new took shape. A few of us from Cumberland, now living in Haslemere, came together to launch Cumberland South Juniors. With the backing of the club committee and sponsorship from Project Recruit and Project Global, we launched a 10-week pilot in the summer term. The response was incredible. We now have 40 regular junior players from Year 3 to Year 8. As they grow, we’ll grow with them, continuing the club through to Year 11.
In April 2025, we celebrated our first anniversary. Thanks to the financial support of Project Global, I am now a Level 2 Qualified Coach, and we have more of our coaches currently training for their Coaching Level 1 and Level 2 Awards too.
What started as a few games at school and a chance encounter in my early twenties has grown into something so much more. From playing weekly and umpiring nationally, to running junior teams and helping build something lasting, it’s been an incredible journey, and I wouldn’t change a thing.
Netball didn’t just shape my life… it brought me lifelong friendships, showed me how sport can build strength, resilience and confidence, and gave me the chance to be part of the netball world, an incredible and ever-growing movement.
Watching young players grow in confidence, support one another, and fall in love with the game reminds me every week why I do this.
It’s more than a sport. It’s community, connection, and an absolute joy. And the journey’s far from over!
