Phoenix Netball: More Than a Game
“Phoenix really came out of nowhere!” The story of Phoenix Netball is a remarkable one. A club built around togetherness and passion.
The Start
“A group of strangers joined a ‘Couch to 5K’-style return to netball league. We were thrown into a team together, and a few non-committers dropped off along the way, which led to some recruits from family and friends.
“Many of us are busy working women, juggling high-pressure careers, families and everything else that comes with everyday life. Netball became our escape, an hour where you can get on court, clear your head and forget about the daily grind.
“Some of us hadn't played for years. One of our players returned to the court last year, having not played since school (a 30-year break from netball).
“It didn't take long before we'd all gone from casually returning to the sport to being completely netball-obsessed.
“After enjoying success in friendly social leagues, some of the team started wondering how far we could take it. We decided to form Phoenix, establish ourselves as a proper club and take the step into competitive league netball.
“What started as a bit of escapism has grown into something none of us really anticipated.”
It is a place where people can play the sport they love, no matter their ability. The club provides a platform to escape the stress of everyday life; whilst you're on the court, that’s all you have to think about. Phoenix Netball is special for several reasons.
What makes the club special?
“It's the mix of people and the fact that there is genuinely a place for everyone.
“Since Phoenix began, we've had 81 player registration forms completed. That means 81 women from the Bridgend area have come through our doors to train with us at some point, which is something we're incredibly proud of.
“Every Sunday we run open Pay & Play sessions at CCYD, where all ages and abilities are welcome. You can walk through the door having not touched a netball for decades, or you can come with ambitions to play competitive league netball.
“Alongside that, we have our league squads training specifically for competitive fixtures.
“We want to give women somewhere they can challenge themselves and take their netball seriously without losing the enjoyment and friendship that brought so many of us back to the sport in the first place.
And whatever has happened during your working week, when you step onto that court, you're no longer thinking about emails, deadlines, meetings or what's for tea. You're thinking about getting free for the next pass.
Over time, the club has grown and grown. It has become home to many local players, players who always strive to be their best on the court. Every time a player represents Phoenix Netball, they uphold the club's values.
“Inclusivity, friendship, resilience and ambition.”
“Phoenix should be somewhere women feel comfortable regardless of their age, ability, experience or how long it's been since they last played.
“But inclusive doesn't mean uncompetitive. We have players who love coming to training and others who want to push themselves in competitive league netball. Both are an important part of Phoenix.
“Resilience is a big part of our identity too. Our captain, Rhi, is probably a perfect example of that.
“She had England trials as a Goal Defence when she was younger but, at 5'7", was essentially told she'd need to be six foot to play professionally in that position. She went on to discover her love for midcourt and has now settled into Centre as though the bib was made just for her. Throw numerous ACL injuries and surgeries into the mix, and you'd forgive her for hanging up her netball daps, but she's still going. We're not letting dodgy knees, careers, children or a 30-year break get in the way of building on what we’ve started.”
The club has achieved a phenomenal amount, and the future looks bright.
Achievements and the future
“There are results and performances we're proud of, but perhaps our biggest achievement is what has happened off the scoreboard.
“The community and the friendships we’ve built far exceed the pride in winning a game.
“Before Phoenix began, the committee hadn’t experienced the challenges and obstacles that running a club brings. Everything we’ve done up until this point has been a huge learning curve and not without its teething problems, but the resilience and commitment within the current team are what’s kept the fire burning.
“We’re also proud that we successfully made the jump from social netball into competitive league netball, which felt like a huge step when we first talked about doing it. Now we have teams playing in two competitive leagues and a growing list of club members.
“We’re pretty ambitious, and there will hopefully be plenty of on-court achievements to celebrate in the near future, but creating a club of kind, supportive women is something we're immensely proud of.”
It’s not all about results on the court; for Phoenix Netball, it’s about making sure their people feel safe, welcome and able to play their best netball. The club also has clear goals for the future.
“To grow, without losing what made Phoenix special in the first place.
“We want to keep our Sunday sessions open and accessible so that the next woman who hasn't picked up a netball for 10, 20 or even 30 years feels completely comfortable turning up and giving it a go.
“At the same time, we're ambitious for our competitive squads. We want to develop our players, strengthen our teams and see how far we can progress within competitive netball. The improvement in our first team after one season of league netball gives us high hopes for the next team, who will develop their skills with the support of the club.
“Ultimately, we'd love Phoenix to become a thriving, sustainable club that gives women in the Bridgend area opportunities to play at different levels and at different stages of life.
“Most importantly, we never want to lose the reason Phoenix began. Life is busy. We spend a huge amount of time being employees, professionals, mums, partners, daughters and everything else people need us to be. Sometimes you need an hour where someone throws you a netball so you can get lost in the game.
“That's what Phoenix gives us, and we want to give that opportunity to as many women as we can.”
What makes Phoenix Netball special can't be measured by wins and losses alone. It is found in its values, its people and the story they continue to create together. The journey has already been remarkable, and there is still so much more to come.
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