Empire News

Empire has seen some really competitive netball over the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons, we have also been fortunate to have an influx of experienced players join us, and of course our juniors are growing up and the next wave qualified for Sunday netball. After some consideration it was decided that getting athletes to trial was the fairest way to reevaluate what each team looked like. Michelle & Jenny have some serious ambitions for season 2025-26 and the trials would (and have) allowed them to build some super squads! Over a 3-week period, everyone who qualified to play in the Liverpool League (aged 14 upwards) was invited to trial and impartial coaches/scorers were invited to help analyse match play. The atmosphere was amazing, countless team combinations were tried and everyone was given the opportunity to play in their first and second choice positions. To say we are proud of everyone’s efforts over the 3 weeks of trials is an understatement. Squad photos will be published soon, watch this space!

On Sunday 18th May the FIRST EVER Netball Superleague game was held in the M&S Arena in Liverpool. 65 adults and children from Empire went to the arena to watch Manchester Thunder take on new franchise Birmingham Panthers. The game was full of twists and turns; Thunder had a comfortable lead for parts of the game and then had us on the edge of our seats as it went neck and neck. The Super Shot was also introduced this season after being trialled for a couple of years in Australia. The atmosphere was electric and Merseyside really showed netball fans how we get behind teams we support! Well done to Thunder to take the win 67-61.   Follow all NSL action here: https://www.netballsl.com

After being contacted by a touring South African school from Johannesburg, Empire put together the first ever “North West Tri Series’ creating a tournament for athletes Under 18 and U16. We had the pleasure of hosting 2 teams from St Andrew's school, Johannesburg, Penrith Netball Club & Meerkats Netball Club from Cumbria. The teams were aged U16 and U18 who played each other to battle it out for the overall winner.   Umpires & coaches fed back that they loved the day, the contest between athletes was fantastic and the atmosphere was electric.   Congratulations to Empire Lightning who took Gold & Empire Galaxy who took Silver

On 2nd March 2024 we were very proud to see U15s Head Coach, Gill Smith pass her B Award Umpiring Assessment. Having umpired for several years in the Liverpool league, she has excelled as a qualified C Award and finally took the plunge to gain her B Award qualification. This has been a long process which involved hours of mentoring, umpiring at Regional level, a written assessment and finally a practical assessment. Gill is well known in the umpiring circuit as a very fair and credible umpire, she has also been an exceptional mentor to some of your junior members on their umpiring journey. We are so proud to have Gill as one of our Club Umpires – CONGRATULATIONS! …A Award next?