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Welcome

Taking on the role of President of England Netball is an immense privilege for anybody at any time, but becoming the President in England Netball’s centenary year has been even more special than I could have imagined. Netball has given me so much over the years. Teammates that have become lifelong friends, the opportunity to travel and compete against the world’s best, and an immense sense of pride in representing my country on court.

As President now, I’m determined to give back to the sport that I love so much, and it has been a joy to connect with so many committed volunteers throughout my tenure so far. Celebrating our 100th birthday in Huddersfield is just one of many highlights and I look forward to continuing to meet and connect with more of you as the celebrations continue throughout the year.

Eboni Usoro-Brown, England Netball President

There is nothing I love more than coming together with the Netball Family and in my role as Community Ambassador I’ve been lucky enough to get to know so many people who have dedicated so much time and energy to providing opportunities for women and girls to play our amazing sport.

Nothing makes me prouder than representing this unapologetically female-focused sport and organisation, and I’m honoured to be a voice for all of our wonderful volunteers in this very special centenary year. I hope you all enjoy reading this edition of 5TH QTR magazine and reminiscing on some of the highlights of the last 100 years of Netball whilst dreaming big about where our sport can go in the future.

Sheelagh Redpath MBE, England Netball Community Ambassador

This article appears in Centenary Special Edition

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Centenary Special Edition
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Welcome
Hi all, and welcome to a very special
Welcome
Taking on the role of President of England Netball
Many happy returns
It was a time for celebration on 12 February 2026, 100 years to the day since the formation of the All England Women’s Net Ball Association in the drawing room of the YMCA, Tottenham Court Road. Relive the day through the words of those who were there.
A hundred (and more!) years of netball
1891 The game is invented in the USA,
Celebrating the centenary
The entire Netball Family has been getting involved in our centenary celebrations, take a look at a snapshot of how the year of celebration events have started to unfold across the country
Poly sitting pretty
If there is one club that epitomises the journey netball has been on since the game was first envisaged in the very early 20th century, it has to be Poly Netball Club, which plays in the premier divisions of the Middlesex County and North London Netball Leagues. Watch below to hear player Natalie Morris talk to current President Lesley Tischler about what makes the club so special, other than being in the Guinness Book of Records for being the longest continuously running netball club in the world!
The volunteers who make the netball world go round
As you will know, the ONE Awards spotlight the amazing people who make netball happen, through varying roles like officiating, coaching, administration, supporting school netball activity, clubs and local leagues, or helping drive inclusion and reaching new audiences in netball.
Listen and learn!
When Jean Robinson, President for the 50th anniversary in 1976, Lindsay Sartori, in post for the 90th anniversary in 2016, and Eboni Usoro-Brown, our current President, get together it’s well worth listening!
It’s official – the Army is the place to be for netball
Dan Racey, former Army Reservist, and now a high-level umpire, tells 5TH QTR about his experiences both in the Army and in officiating.
Amazing Gracie
With a magazine celebrating the history of netball and focusing on those who have come before, we thought it would be worth taking a look at the present, and indeed the future, so we caught up with one of the Netball Super League’s brightest – and definitely youngest – stars in London Pulse’s Gracie Smith.
Golden memories
With thoughts turning to the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, we spoke to Vitality Roses Specialist Coach Jo Harten MBE who was one of the stars who won gold in the Australia in 2018. Jo talked to us about that astonishing success and how she sees this tournament and the future of the game.
A league of their own
Huddersfield has been the beating heart of England Netball’s centenary celebrations this year, as the home of the Netball Heritage and Archives Group. 5TH QTR spoke to Michelle Welch and Nutan Joshi from local registered league, Huddersfield Netball League, to reflect on their own history as a league and discuss how they’ve overcome facility challenges in the present.
Lightning pip Pulse at the Soft & Gentle Netball Super Cup
With the Super League moving on apace – we’ll report on that in full in the next issue of 5TH QTR – we thought it worth reflecting on the season’s curtain opener, the Soft & Gentle Netball Super Cup, so let’s go back to the beginning of the day in Sheffield on 21 February…
I wish I knew IN CONVERSATION WITH…
Introducing a webinar series from NETBALLHer and Wellbeing of Women.
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Centenary Special Edition
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