To put into words the World Cup experience from a fans’ point of view is a daunting task and one I’m not sure my writing skills are up to!
The anticipation was palpable and on reflection the event had a lot to live up to: but live up to it, it most certainly did - and then some!
The Netball was everything it promised to be. From the surprise package and noise of Zimbabwe (they were in my hotel you know!) to the hugely entertaining and exciting final and everything in between! We had ‘ohs’ ‘Ahhhss’ and ‘We want Dunn!’
OK, so it wasn’t the final England fans wanted or the majority of netball fans. There is now a question mark over whether the Netball world order really has changed and I still can’t really bring myself to talk about the England v NZ Semi Final such is my heartbreak!
I said before the World Cup started though that one of five nations could win the coveted trophy - but equally one of five nations could also come 5th. England fans plight could be worse: we could be Jamaica!
The Pivoteers were just amazing - friendly, polite, helpful. Yes, everything they should be - but those 450 people gave up their time for free, paid for their own accommodation, food and drink. All for the love of the game. Everyone one of them outstanding and deserve a lot more appreciation than they probably got.
The atmosphere in the arena, the piazza, fan park and generally around the city was incredible. Everyone was talking about the netball - the locals, visitors, shop staff, pub staff, in hotels, in the town. Liverpool really does know how to welcome a global community!
At the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2014 Netballers could pretty much walk around the city unbothered - it was probably just me asking for selfies back then to the amusement of some! I witnessed England players wearing hats and pulling the hoodies up over their heads this time round - not that they weren’t polite and friendly when approached though!
My own fan girling (read blog #11) went through the roof! It started with Netball legend Irene Van Dyke and finished with the very lovely Katherine Merry and Pamela Cookey. I took a bit of a ‘coaches’ route through the fan girling - spotting Rob Wright and Sara Bayman. (Who may well have been the player laughing at me in Glasgow!)
There were a few thousand teary eyed women listening to Claire Balding’s closing speech. Yes Claire it really did matter and it will continue to matter. Rousing was not the word, her words, delivery and passion were perfect.
The one thing that could have made it ever so slightly better was if Claire had conducted the post final interview with Maria Falou. (!) A very strange choice out of all the NZ players they could have asked, I feel. It very nearly went all a bit pear shaped too.
I feel that the netball family completely undone ourselves this time! There were flags, there was face paint, wigs & costumes, there were Mexican waves and a noise like you’ve never heard. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up, countless times. Incredible feels.
So now there is a very Netball World Cup shaped hole to fill and I’m not sure it’s going to be done! We’ll try with some podcast catching up and getting up ridiculously early this weekend for Suncorp Super Netball! I’ve still got some photo sorting and uploading to do and probably some more blog writing!
It’s going to take a while to get over, certainly, but the memories and legacy will continue.
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