Norfolk United are gunning for that second automatic promotion place. Source | Norfolk United
After more than a year away, Premier League netball is set to make its triumphant return to court this weekend as the 2021/22 season commences on Sunday 26 September.
Due to he COVID-19 pandemic, this is set to be the first full Premier League season since the 2018/19 campaign for all 30 of our teams. As a result, no promotion or relegation took place last term so the same clubs that started 2019/20 campaign will contest the 2021/22 season.
This season will run until the end of March 2022 with the Premier League play-offs taking place on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 April 2022.
Premier League 1:
The highest league in the Premier League pyramid will once again see some of the biggest stars and most promising young athletes take to court this season for their respective sides.
The likes of Kerry Almond, Paige Reed and Brie Grierson are all signed up for the upcoming season alongside their Vitality Netball Superleague (VNSL) duties while youngsters Lucy Parize, Stacey Tankoua and Ellie Rattu are also included in squads.
Oldham Netball Club will go into the new season as title favourites and are current holders of Premier League 1 after yet another victory in 2019, scoring a league-high 1,103 goals along the way.
Under Head Coach and Manchester Thunder Director Debbie Hallas, they will be hoping to match their unprecedented run of four successive titles – which they secured from 2012 to 2015 – this year.
“We are so excited for the start of the Premier League season! Having missed a full season our players and staff are chomping at the bit to get going again,” said Hallas.
“Premier League provides the ideal competitive match play opportunities across a real cross section of netballers. It brings court time for VNSL players ahead of their league, young players trying to break into Superleague squads and also talented pathway athletes who are able to test themselves in a competitive women’s league along with senior club players thriving at this level.”
Oldham captain Almond said: “I’m really looking forward to the season and seeing this team progress once more, to hopefully retain our title and get our hands back on the trophy.”
Tameside vs Turnford and Linded vs New Campbell will be the opening two games of the Premier League 1 season with Weston Park Blades’ trip to Hucclecote rounding off Round 1.
2020/21 Premier League 1 teams: Academy, Grangetown, Hucclecote, Linden, New Cambell, Oldham, Tameside, Turnford, Weston Park Blades, YWCA Bury.
Bookmark the Premier League 1 page to track your team’s progress.
Premier League 2:
Ten teams in Premier League 2 will all have one aim in mind – to fight to finish in the table’s top two to secure promotion to Premier League 1.
Big-name players such as Kira Rothwell, Eboni Usoro-Brown, Jo Trip and youngsters Aliyah Zaranyika, Ella Bowen, Issy Eaton have all been named in squads.
Three games take place on Sunday at 10:30 with Charnwood taking on Thoroughbreds, Worcester Reds facing Ryland, and Cumberland taking on Oaksway.
2021/22 Premier League 2 teams: Charnwood Rutland, Cumberland, Leeds Athletic, Oaksway, Ryland, Team Bath Toucans, Telstars, The Downs, Thoroughbreds, Worcester Reds.
Bookmark the Premier League 2 page to track your team’s progress.
Premier League 3:
The run-in of the Premier League 3 season is one of the most exciting periods in UK netball as teams both look to escape to Prem 2 but also survive as teams from outside the Premier League look to join the elite 30 teams.
The nine regional league winners along with the bottom three teams from Premier League 3 take part in the Premier League Playoffs to decide who will compete in Premier League 3 the following season.
This year, Premier League play-offs taking place on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 April 2022.
Youngsters such as Welsh international Zoe Matthewman, Betsy Creak and Morganne Dunn are included while established stars such as Beth Gabriel, Tamsin Greenway and Kathryn Ainsworth also play their club netball in Premier League 3.
Premier League 3 begins with Eclipse taking on Sussex Thunder and Essex Open taking on TFC Leicester Netball Club at 11:00 on Sunday.
2021/22: Premier League 3 teams: BSV Billericay, Clan, Eclipse, Essex Open, Exeter, Leyton, Norfolk Utd, Premier Romans, Sussex Thunder, TFC Leicester Netball Club.
Bookmark the Premier League 3 page to track your team’s progress.
To stay up to date with the leagues, including fixtures, results and standings, make sure to visit their official pages on the England Netball website.
Results will be updated on the website by 12pm on Mondays.
Make sure you’re following England Netball on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest news and updates.
