5th Qtr - Centenary Special Edition

In this edition


WelcomeHi all, and welcome to a very special
WelcomeTaking on the role of President of England Netball
Many happy returnsIt 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 netball1891 The game is invented in the USA,
Celebrating the centenaryThe 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 prettyIf 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 roundAs 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 netballDan Racey, former Army Reservist, and now a high-level umpire, tells 5TH QTR about his experiences both in the Army and in officiating.
Amazing GracieWith 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 memoriesWith 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 ownHuddersfield 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 CupWith 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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