Pewsey Vale Netball Club prepare for the new season

They have started training at St Francis’ School’s indoor sports hall – the Hemery Hall – and they already have some new members: the Pewsey Vale Netball Club is very serious about its aims for the new season and now have a professional coach – Lizzy Lingard – for their training sessions.  And it’s serious too about the Club’s social life and making their sport fun – as their logo suggests!

The Pewsey Vale Club, which began life five years ago, draws its members from a wide area.  Many come from Marlborough – which has no netball club – and from the Vale villages, Upavon and Tidworth.

The Club has got generous sponsorship from Pewsey’s Spar grocery store and has used this money to buy a pool of club kit and balls, and to set up a hardship fund.  Members pay about £13 per month towards hire of the sports hall and their coach.

There is, club captain Nicole Edwards assures all those interested in joining the Club, a lively social side to the Club and it has a dedicated social secretary.  They have regular pub sessions and organise trips to England Netball fixtures.

The Club is always keen to welcome new members – of all ages and abilities (16+):  contact them at pewseynetball@gmail.com or via Facebook.  All new recruits get three free training sessions.

Pewsey Vale Netball Club are members of the Moonraker League – one of four substantial leagues playing under the auspices of the Wiltshire County Netball Association with affiliation to Netball England.  

With four divisions the Devizes-based Moonraker league takes in clubs from as far apart as Frome, Westbury – and Pewsey Vale.  For this coming Pewsey Vale have kept their place in Moonraker’s second division.

The Moonraker League includes three Devizes teams in the premier division and three other Devizes teams.  And Chippenham is represented with four teams.

During the summer months the Club take part in Moonraker’s ‘Versatility League’.  This is a way to get wider experience – every quarter (each ‘quarter’ is 12 minutes long) the umpire changes players; position.  As Nicole Edwards explained to Marlborough News Online: “It’s a really good way to get used to different positions – but it’s more of a fun thing.”