Northern Thunder Netball Club storm to victory in their new home

Northern Thunder Netball Club are looking forward to the start of the national Fiat Netball Super League.

They will compete in games at their new home the Thunderdome, Wright Robinson College Sports Hall, Gorton.

Wright Robinson Sports Hall has recently benefited from a £234k investment to support netball development in east Manchester and has provided Northern Thunder with the home court they needed to take part in the Fiat Netball Super League.

The Fiat Netball Super League will begin on Monday 23 January when Northern Thunder take on Yorkshire Jets at the Thunderdome. Followed by home games against Celtic Dragons (11 February), Surrey Storm (20 February) and Team Northumbia (25 February).

The Northern Thunder are fresh from victory having being crowned Northern Conference champions at the inaugural Cathedral City Fastnet Grand Prix, which took place at the Thunuderdome on Saturday 7 January. The home team faced stiff opposition from Loughborough Lightning, Team Northumbria and Yorkshire Jets in front of a sold out audience of 700.   

The Northern Thunders will now travel to Surrey on 13 January to compete against the winners of the Southern Conference, Surrey Storm, in the national final of the Cathedral City Lighter Fastnet Grand Prix.

Councillor Mike Amesbury, Manchester City Council executive member for culture and leisure said, "Manchester has a real passion for sport and is home to a wealth of world-class facilities. The Fastnet Grand Prix was incredibly popular and I'm sure the upcoming league games will be met with the same level of enthusiasm.

"I'd like to congratulate The Northern Thunders on their recent victory and wish them the best of luck in both Friday's game and the upcoming league."

Debbie Hallas - Norther Thunder Netball, said "The inaugural Cathedral City Fastnet Grand Prix can now be hailed as a massive success. To host the event at our new home venue The Manchester Thunderdome was an honour and proved that we have a great netball following in the area. This support no doubt spurred us on to win the competition. On behalf of Northern Thunder I would like to thank the East Manchester Netball Alliance and all involved in the project at Wright Robinson."

Andy Crook, General Manager Fiat Netball Super League said, "The first Cathedral City Lighter Fastnet Grand Prix - Manchester Conference, was an overwhelming success both on the court and off of it.  The Manchester conferences was a complete sell out and with home crowd support cheering them on, Northern Thunder played superbly to come away victorious in their new home at the Thunderdome."

Neville Beischer, Head of Wright Robinson Sports College, said "I am extremely proud of the relationship that the school has with netball, both locally and nationally, our ambitions are to continue to provide top class netball opportunities to our students, netball clubs, Northern Thunders and visiting international teams, hence our recent investment in a new wooden sprung floor, two court hall and 500 temporary seating.  Having hosted the first Northern Conference, witnessed the capacity crowds,sheer speed of movement, agility and the skill of the game, all serves to confirm that the work of the East Manchester Netball Alliance are moving in the right direction."