SALFORD CITY REDS BACK NETBALL’S OLYMPIC BID
Rugby league club Salford City Reds has joined more than a quarter of a million people, including the likes of Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Dame Kelly Holmes and former England football captain, Bryan Robson, in lending their support to netball’s bid to become a participation sport at the Olympic Games. The Reds invited local netball Superleague team, Northern Thunder, to support them in a recent match at The Pavilion.
Over 1 million women and girls play netball in the UK each week, with 20 million across 70 countries globally taking part in the sport. However, despite its popularity, netball is not classed as a participation sport in the Olympics, despite being regularly played at the Commonwealth Games.
Rugby league club Salford City Reds has joined more than a quarter of a million people, including the likes of Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Dame Kelly Holmes and former England football captain, Bryan Robson, in lending their support to netball’s bid to become a participation sport at the Olympic Games. The Reds invited local netball Superleague team, Northern Thunder, to support them in a recent match at The Pavilion.
Over 1 million women and girls play netball in the UK each week, with 20 million across 70 countries globally taking part in the sport. However, despite its popularity, netball is not classed as a participation sport in the Olympics, despite being regularly played at the Commonwealth Games.
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The Co-operative, title sponsors of netball’s Superleague and National Leagues in rugby league, is supporting the bid.
Debbie Hallas, Co-owner of Northern Thunder, said: “We’re really pleased that Salford’s sporting community is getting behind netball’s Olympic bid. We had a great time at the match and to see rugby league, which has similar community values to netball, supporting our campaign is fantastic.
“It would be wonderful if Salford City Reds fans came along to watch Northern Thunder play in the future. In many ways, netball and rugby league are quite similar in terms of the skills required, such as accurate passing, speed and strength.
“With all the support we’ve received so far the Olympic bid is really gathering pace. “
Debbie Robinson, Director of Food Retail Marketing at The Co-operative, added: “As the UK's leading convenience store retailer, we support many grassroots sports and activities, and we feel strongly that netball, which is played by so many girls and women, both at home and abroad, should be represented at the Olympics”.
Northern Thunder’s season starts at home on 23 October against Team Northumbria at their home venue at The Castle Leisure Centre.
Debbie Hallas, Co-owner of Northern Thunder, said: “We’re really pleased that Salford’s sporting community is getting behind netball’s Olympic bid. We had a great time at the match and to see rugby league, which has similar community values to netball, supporting our campaign is fantastic.
“It would be wonderful if Salford City Reds fans came along to watch Northern Thunder play in the future. In many ways, netball and rugby league are quite similar in terms of the skills required, such as accurate passing, speed and strength.
“With all the support we’ve received so far the Olympic bid is really gathering pace. “
Debbie Robinson, Director of Food Retail Marketing at The Co-operative, added: “As the UK's leading convenience store retailer, we support many grassroots sports and activities, and we feel strongly that netball, which is played by so many girls and women, both at home and abroad, should be represented at the Olympics”.
Northern Thunder’s season starts at home on 23 October against Team Northumbria at their home venue at The Castle Leisure Centre.