A netball-hungry Huntingdon resident reckons Back to Netball is revolutionising the region.
Kristina Littlewood, 29, is chair of Sandy’s Galaxy Netball Club and has relished taking to the court since first discovering a Back to Netball session in 2019.
The sessions are a fun and friendly re-introduction to netball and Littlewood, who works as a genetic counsellor, has experienced their benefits first hand.
Back to Netball has been a catalyst for Galaxy’s growth and Littlewood believes the programme is blazing a trail.
Littlewood, who lives with partner Alex McCormick in Huntingdon, said: “I went to a Back to Netball session and just absolutely loved it.
“Ever since, netball has slowly taken over my life. I just enjoy it so much – I’ve definitely got hooked and in two years I’ve become a proper netball fanatic.
“It’s such an inclusive sport in general – it doesn’t matter what your ability is. It’s just a really nice way to meet new people who are similar to yourself.
“Netball opens a lot of doors, gives you the opportunity to meet new people and really push yourself in different ways. There’s a whole community that people don’t realise is there.
“We only have a small town – but the amount of teams is absolutely amazing. I think everyone feels the same – we’re so glad there are lots of other teams as it means more people to meet and lots of other matches.”
Littlewood grew up in Leeds before her work in genetics – in Nottingham – saw her relocate south, where she now resides with Alex and their two pugs.
And it was in Bedfordshire where she first uncovered the unique benefits of netball, with Littlewood one of the 125,000 women to have rediscovered the sport through England Netball’s Back to Netball sessions.
Galaxy still host a Back to Netball session every Tuesday evening, providing women of all ages and experience levels with the perfect opportunity to improve their fitness levels in a relaxed and enjoyable environment.
Littlewood plies her trade as a wing attack in Galaxy’s Division Three team and believes the sport will continue to sky-rocket on a firmly upwards trajectory.
“England Netball are putting so much effort in to try and get it out there to people,” she added.
“It’s a real credit of how far England Netball have gone to pushing it into the public eye and making people aware of it.
“No matter how old you are or what your background is, you can give as good as you’ve got in netball – nothing can stop you and I absolutely love it.”
Click here to find a Back to Netball session near you.
