#1 50 days!

It’s just 50 days until the 2019 Netball World Cup in Liverpool and I cannot remember a more anticipated international netball competition!

I’m Debbie, self proclaimed Neek (Netball geek!)

Actually, my fabulous Back to Netballers first coined the phrase a few years ago and the term stuck! They now have an army of #neeks such was the impact of Back to Netball!

I coach, I umpire, I play (when fit - don’t get me started on my ACL injury! 🙄) I have a long history of volunteering in the game and I have supported England Roses 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🌹 for as long as I can remember. I used to work for the governing body (absolute dream job!) and now run ‘Netball in the Community’  - providing netball opportunities for the fab folk of Portsmouth & surrounding areas!

In my previous life (!) I trained as a journalist and started a career in PR & Marketing before full-time coaching came calling!

So, I thought, with World Cup fever due to hit,and the fact I have a fair few tickets (don’t tell the hubby I remortgaged 😉), I would put my Netball geekiness and writing skills to good use and start a blog!

It may be the most unsuccessful blog in the history of blogs but I get huge satisfaction for sharing the Netball love ❤️ 

I will give it my best shot! Here’s hoping for Jo Harten success rather than my 17 year old self coming off the bench and completely missing the net / post / ring in a County U18 fixture circa 1998! (Oh the memories!)

Here we go with my netball musings then......................

South Africa named their squad this morning - what more Sigi Burger had to do is anyone’s guess but I wouldn’t argue with the legend that is Norma Plummer!

Jamaica’s 12 has also been named with 3 out & out shooters in Aiken, Nelson & Fowler. Not a history of versatility in those players but how can you drop anyone  playing their netball in the best league in the world? Suncorp Super Netball LIVE app is a mainstay on my phone!

I have a strong feeling Jamaica have a huge upset in them and, out of the 6 top nations, are the ones we know least about!

Final word must be on Ama Agbeze: what an ambassador & trailblazer for our sport! She has been desperately unlucky this season with injuries & form and no one could have imagined, when  she lifted that Commonwealth trophy in April 2018, she wouldn’t be in the 12 for Liverpool 2019.

That is elite sport though: as cruel as it can be amazing.

I imagine it will be of little comfort at the moment but no one can take away what she has achieved and I have no doubt she was truly inspirational, as well as pivotal, in that Commonwealth Games winning Roses team! It’s a huge gap to fill for Liverpool 2019.