A SMALL chink of hope was given to several sports last week when Joe FitzPatrick, the Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing, announced a package of support for several sports, with a mixed funding package of grants and loans amounting to around £55 million.
This will be a lifesaver for many sports, keeping them afloat until the long-awaited “new” normal allows them to deliver professional sport to the fans and bring in some income.
It also means that everyone employed by that sport will get some sort of income and job guarantee.
Netball Scotland is one of the sports included and there was also some other good news from netball when they announced a new partnership with Nike, which will see a range of branded netball clothing go on sale.
Nike will also become the official playing, training and travel wear partner for all of Netball Scotland’s national teams, including the Scottish Thistles and the Strathclyde Sirens. This is an area that has been neglected for so long and women and girls will now have a mainstream “go-to” in leisurewear that represents them.
Under the direction of CEO Claire Nelson, Netball Scotland is in safe hands, as her passion and commitment to the game is legendary. It just recently appointed a new chair and, as always, is looking at ways to be innovative and add value to the sport.
The appointment of Ed Crozier is a bold move and one which I think will pay them back in spades. A former president of Scottish Rugby and former rugby referee, Ed is an executive producer in film and theatre and joins Netball Scotland after two terms as chair of Dance Base Scotland.
He also worked at senior partner level in the financial services industry and was a founding director of Glasgow Life CIC board. So pandemic aside, I think things are looking good for Netball Scotland going into 2021.
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