Welcome

Hi everyone, and welcome to the latest edition of 5TH QTR magazine! I’m so excited to share this issue with you after stepping into a new role as guest editor over the past couple of months, it’s been such a fun challenge trying something different off the court!

It’s been a busy but incredible time recently, with an unforgettable tour to Australia and New Zealand, playing both at home and away in the brand-new Vitality Netball Horizon Series, and now gearing up for the fast-approaching Vitality Netball Nations Cup. UK fans will be able to watch all the games live on Sky Sports and tickets to come and watch us are available here.

I’ve loved diving into the creation of this magazine, giving you a little glimpse into my life as a Vitality Rose and learning about some of the amazing netball initiatives happening across the country. It’s been really interesting shaping the magazine, talking to all of the people who make it happen, looking at how the words, images and design support each other, and trying to make sure that every aspect of netball from all parts of the country are covered. It’s been tricky to squeeze it all in!

I want to take a moment to shine a light on our incredible volunteers. As I was reading through this magazine, one thing stood out loud and clear: behind every success story, whether it’s crowdfunding for new netball courts or ensuring the smooth running of major international events, there’s an army of passionate and dedicated volunteers. You are the heart and soul of this sport, and everything we do is made possible because of you. So, on behalf of me, the Vitality Roses, and everyone who has found joy in picking up a netball this year: thank you from the bottom of my heart!

This New Year edition of 5TH QTR is packed with stories to keep you entertained, especially if, like me, you’re counting down the hours until the Vitality Netball Nations Cup kicks offtomorrow. You’ll get to hear from the inspirational Jean Hornsby and Molly Rhone as they reflect on the honour of having the Rhone Hornsby Trophy named after them, meet some powerhouse women leading the NETBALLHer initiative into 2025, and celebrate a big milestone for the Potters House Netball Tournament, which has been bringing communities together through netball for an amazing ten years.

There’s so much more to discover, so once you’ve had a read, I’d love to hear which feature was your favourite, let me know on social media!

Thank you so much for all your ongoing support for the Vitality Roses. I hope you enjoy watching the Vitality Netball Nations Cup, whether you’re cheering from the arenas or tuning in live on Sky Sports. I know I’m really looking forward to it!

See you soon,

Funmi Fadoju