The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Friends helping spread the word about netball
Players score funding to establish local network of clubs for young participants
Three friends are working hard to bring netball to communities and youngsters across Perth and Kinross.
Cherrybank players Kirsty Eadie, Lianne Gibb and Hayleigh Robertson have secured National Lottery funding to help make their dream a reality.
Netball is enjoying huge popularity at present but there are currently just two teams for school age children to play a role in outwith their own schools.
Demand is high for places with the teams in Perth and Bridge of Earn and many youngsters lack opportunities to get involved.
The trio hope to change that by taking on the challenge of establishing a new network of netball clubs for young players.
The Perth and Kinross Netball Network has the backing of Perth and Kinross Council’s Sports Development team and Live Active Leisure and they hope parents across the region will also get on board.
“Netball is a great sport that helps you develop yourself, gain teamwork skills and can give you a real sense community,” said Kirsty, from Perth.
“I’ve played since I was eight, progressing through children’s clubs, district, Scotland under-17s and university. It has been a huge part of my life.
“The sport is enjoying real popularity and there is real demand for places, but at the moment there are only two clubs for young people in Perth and Kinross.
“We hope to create six new localised clubs, with Blairgowrie, Highland Perthshire, Perth and the Carse of Gowrie among them.”
A £6,000 award from the National Lottery’s SportScotland scheme has enabled the teammates to begin work.
It will help them get equipment and book facilities with the initial focus on creating clubs for nine to 12-year-olds in Perth and the Carse of Gowrie.
They hope to engage parents to help them develop the clubs and then take on coaching and umpiring roles and leadership of the clubs.
Over time, further clubs would follow and additional age groups, including 13 to 15-year-olds, giving them a pathway into the adult game.
Netball has enjoyed significant exposure in recent years, with major competitions at world level featuring on television and Scotland’s first professional team launching in 2016.
The Glasgow-based Sirens play in the Vitality Netball Superleague in England.
Anyone interested in supporting the trio or playing a role in the creation of a new club can email pknetballnetwork@ gmail.com.
Netball is a great sport that helps you develop yourself, gain teamwork skills and can give you a real sense of community. KIRSTY EADIE