#7 Legends! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 V 🌍

Approximately 2 years ago I had a conversation with a Netball ‘big wig’ about the idea of a ‘legends’ exhibition match at the World Cup! As far as I know it wasn’t taken any further, although I like to think it was the starting point for the ‘celeb’ match recently announced with Jennifer Saunders and Oti Mabusi captaining!

But, just for fun and for me to scratch an itch that’s been irritating me for a few years now! Here’s my ‘dream’ line up for England Legends v The Rest of the World!

We’ll start with England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

GK Tracey Horton: Easy one for me, she was ‘home grown’ as she was from Portsmouth & played for my club, Meon. Her mum was my first Coach! Tracey indirectly gave me a glimpse into the world of elite netball, when I wasn’t quite a teenager and the sacrifices you have to make to reach the top!

GD Kendra Lowe (Slawinski) THE England Captain, led by example and was everything you wanted to be as an impressionable young Netballer!

WD Fiona Murtagh If I remember correctly she was one of the first England Netballers to go across to play in Australia. A few years later I remember being in my debut season in Open county squad and Essex Met were in our group at Inter counties - my devastation when she was ‘rested’ against us still scars me to this day!

C Olivia Murphy / Karen Atkinson No I can’t choose between them and as it’s my dream team I don’t have to lol! Both classy mid courters, more than that, they were fab examples to watching youngsters . They have both gone on to be awesome coaches in their own right. Karen was on my UKCC Level 3 course and it was an absolute pleasure to be in her company.

WA Lucia Sdao As a  young ‘baller I was always impressed with her flair and creativity. England always had it tough against Australia and New Zealand in this era but she never ever gave up.

GA Tracey Neville No brainer! I hope she won’t mind me saying but Tracy carried a bit more weight in her days representing England - but it made me adore her more! I was a GA and let’s just say I wasn’t a skinny teenager. I remember being a young coach and attending a ‘how to select’ course and having a pretty heated argument with a more experienced coach about Tracy’s merits on an England court. I think I won! 😉

GS Lorraine Law I won’t lie the GS bib  was the one I struggled with most! In recent years England have had some shooting superstars - perhaps that’s more to do with the digital age and the rise of social media. I remember Lorraine being a target GS who had to work hard to get the ball despite her height. She was unassuming but not to be underestimated.

Subs: Amanda Newton and Sonia Mkloma we’re both lethal in circle defence, ‘tenacious’  doesn’t do either  of them justice! Sue Collins, never had the actual pleasure to see Sue play, as just before my time, but her reputation as a midfield dynamo earns her a place on my bench! Pamela Cookey: an ambassador of netball both on and off the court, I was personally devastated not to see her play at the Glasgow Commonwealth games because of injury. She was always awesome for Team Bath & Surrey Storm. Lynn Carpenter: Happy to be corrected but I remember Lynn coming into the England squad at a later stage of her netball journey. Always dignified and respectful.

Coach: Anna Mayes / Stenbridge First English Coach for a number of years. Her tenure was cut short far too soon.

Rest of the World! 🌍

GK Liz Ellis. For me, legend status is bandied around far too much in society these days let alone in sport, specifically netball! Liz Ellis is pure class and absolutely deserves the title of LEGEND! I was  privileged to see her play and despite her Aussie status I always wanted her to play her absolute best - she always did!

GD Mon’ia Gerrard. Another Aussie! I had the pleasure of seeing her play for Sydney Swifts (now defunct) in the early 2000’s. It may have even been her debut as she played WD in that game. Her
elevation was incredible and her interceptions took my breathe away. She was everything an Aussie
Diamond should be!


WD Sharon Layton. Yes I know she was predominantly GK but how can you have a World Legends team without her?!? It’s not like I can drop Liz Ellis lol! 😂 Sharni has done so much for netball off and on the court she is the ultimate netball trailblazer! Long may she continue!

C Temepara Bailey. The Silver Fern earned 89 Caps for her country and was always a force to be reckoned with. Opponents would have feared her. .

WA Liana Leota. I reckon she could still do a job for the Silver Ferns! Her timing, her vision and her feeding all sublime and still rocking it in the Vitality Superleague!

GA Mary Waya. The Malawian was an absolute star. I was spoilt for choice here, Silver Fern Belinda Colling and Aussies Sharelle McMahon and Nat Medhurst were / are absolute phenomenal GAs! But I  was in awe of Mary Waya at the World Series in Liverpool in 2010 and that’s why she gets the nod! She was in her early 40s at the time but her flair, passion and ability to entertain the crowd were phenomenal. She made that tournament.

GS Irene Van Dyke. See above re: LEGEND status! I remember Irene Van Dyke playing for South Africa before she made the switch to NZ! Yes she had height which she made very good use of, but she had far more than that to her game! Pretty sure she was still playing ANZ into her 40s. I always remember her playing with a smile on her face!

Subs: Cat Latu / Tuiviti Simple. There is no other GS like her! She should have more CAPs for NZ. I was gutted not to see her play for Sirens v Storm last season, but obviously delighted when she announced, a few weeks later, why! Belinda Colling, another Silver Fern with impeccable pedigree. Sharelle McMann, possibly the best GA of all time. I LOVE her attitude. She is the ultimate Aussie! Nat Medhurst, crying shame her Diamonds career seems to have been shorter than most would have liked! I love her ability to mix it up and play with all different styles of shooters. Nadine Bryan, not a ‘household name’ as we know Jamaican players to be now, Nadine wasn’t the tallest midcourter but she is Jamaica’s highest capped international.

A very attack minded bench! But it’s my dream team, we’d have no injuries!

Coach: Norma Plummer. There are players who would not be called ‘world class’ without Norma Plummer. That’s a big accolade!

So, who have I missed? Who was, perhaps, before my time and deserves a spot in one of the teams? Who’d be in your Legends dream team!?!