Manchester Thunder

Manchester Thunder are an English netball team based in Manchester. Their senior team plays in the Netball Superleague. In 2005–06, Thunder were founder members of the league. They were Superleague champions in 2012, 2014 and 2019. Between 2001 and 2012 they played as Northern Thunder and were originally based in Bury, Greater Manchester.

Manchester Thunder
Nickname(s)Black and Yellows
Founded2001
Based inManchester
RegionsNorth West England
Home venueNational Basketball Performance Centre
Belle Vue Sports Village
Head coachKaren Greig
CaptainEmma Dovey
LeagueNetball Superleague
Websitewww.manchesterthunder.co.uk

Uniform

History

Northern Thunder

Between 2001 and 2005 Northern Thunder, together with five other franchises – Northern Flames, London Tornadoes, London Hurricanes, University of Birmingham Blaze and Team Bath Force – competed in the Super Cup. Northern Thunder won the 2002 Super Cup. Northern Thunder players from the Super Cup era included Amanda Newton, Tracey Neville, Jade Clarke and Sara Bayman [1][2][3][4]

In 2005 Northern Thunder were named as the North West England franchise in the new Netball Superleague. Together with Brunel Hurricanes, Celtic Dragons, Leeds Carnegie, Galleria Mavericks, Team Bath, Loughborough Lightning and Team Northumbria, Northern Thunder were founder members of the league.[5] In 2012, Thunder won their first Superleague title. Janelle Lawson scored 33 goals as they defeated Surrey Storm 57–55 in the grand final.[6]

Manchester Thunder

In 2012 Thunder relocated from Bury, Greater Manchester to Gorton.[7][8][9] They subsequently changed their name from Northern Thunder to Manchester Thunder ahead of the 2013 season.[10] In 2014 Thunder won their second Superleague title after defeating Surrey Storm 49–48 in the grand final.[11] In 2019 Thunder won their third Superleague title.[12][13]

Senior finals

Super Cup
Season Winners Score Runners Up Venue
2002 [3][14]Northern ThunderUniversity of Birmingham Blaze
2004 [15]Team Bath Force49–43Northern ThunderBlackpool

Netball Superleague Grand Finals
Season Winners Score Runners Up Venue
2012 [6][16]Northern Thunder57–55Surrey StormSportHouse
2014 [11]Manchester Thunder49–48Surrey StormWorcester Arena
2016 [17][18]Surrey Storm55–53Manchester ThunderCopper Box Arena
2019 [12][13]Manchester Thunder57–52WaspsCopper Box Arena

Mike Greenwood Trophy

Since 2012 Manchester Thunder have hosted the Manchester Invitational Tournament. The winners are awarded the Mike Greenwood Trophy, named in honour of the former Northern Thunder head coach who died in 2011. It is usually played during pre-season.[19][20][21]

Season Winners Score Runners Up Venue
2012Manchester Thunder
2013Manchester Thunder
2014 [19]Manchester Thunder13–12Loughborough LightningThunderdome
2015 [20][22]Team Bath19–14Manchester Thunder
2016 [23][24]Wasps22–15Team BathBelle Vue Sports Village
2018 [25]Manchester Thunder31–29benecosMavericksOldham Leisure Centre [26]
2019 [21][27]Manchester Thunder49–42Saracens MavericksPlatt Lane Sports Complex

Home venues

Thunder train and play their home games at several venues and locations throughout Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Cheshire.[28] Between 2008–09 and 2011, Northern Thunder played their home Superleague games at Castle Leisure Centre in Bury, Greater Manchester. In 2012 Manchester Thunder began playing their home Superleague games at Wright Robinson College in Gorton. When Manchester Thunder played home games there, the arena was referred to as the Manchester Thunderdome.[7][8][9][29] They have also played home Netball Superleague matches at Manchester Arena.[30][31] In 2020 Manchester Thunder will play their home Superleague games at the National Basketball Performance Centre in the Belle Vue Sports Village.[32]

Notable players

2021 squad
2021 Manchester Thunder roster
PlayersCoaching staff
Nat. Name Position(s) DoB Height
Rebekah Airey GK, GD 19 March 1996 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Eleanor Cardwell GS, GA 11 November 1994 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Amy Carter C, WD 28 October 1998 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Emma Dovey (c) GD, GK 10 April 1991 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Laura Malcolm C, WD 20 May 1991 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Joyce Mvula GS, GA 15 April 1994 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Loreen Ngwira GD, GK 25 May 1993 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Caroline O'Hanlon C, WA 8 August 1984 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Ella Stranding C, WD 25 June 2001 –
Elia McCormick C, WD 25 November 1999 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Lois Pearson GA, WA 20 September 1999 –
Alicia Scholes C, WA 8 May 2001 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in)
Millie Sanders GD, GK 8 August 2001 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Berri Neil GS, GA, WA 12 February 2003 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Emilia Roscoe GA, GS –
Head coach
  • Karen Greig
Assistant coach
  • Gabrielle Towell


Notes
  • (c) – Captain
  • (cc) – Co-captain
  • (vc) – Vice-captain
  • – Injury / maternity leave
  • (TRP) – Temporary Replacement Player
Player profiles: Team website Last updated: 18 November 2020

Internationals
 England
 Australia
 Malawi
 New Zealand
 Northern Ireland

Head coaches
Coach Years
Mike Greenwood [9][35]2008–2011
Tracey Neville [9][36][37]2011–2015
Dan Ryan [38][39]2015–2016
Karen Greig [40]2016–

Honours

References
  1. "Netball: Silly name brigade get Super start". www.telegraph.co.uk. 4 May 2001. Archived from the original on 18 February 2020. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  2. "Classy ladies". www.chroniclelive.co.uk. 14 May 2003. Archived from the original on 18 February 2020. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  3. "Netball: Tornadoes put wind up Hurricanes as Newton has a real stormer; Super Cup (Bath)". www.thefreelibrary.com. 25 May 2003. Archived from the original on 3 March 2020. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  4. "Thunder struck by Force power". www.sportfocus.com. 24 May 2003. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  5. Dr. Louise Mansfield & Dr. Lara Killick (1 January 2012). "The UK Netball Superleague: A Case Study of Franchising in Elite Women's Sport" (PDF). Brunel University, School of Sport and Education, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UK; and University of the Pacific, Department of Health, Exercise and Sport Science, Stockton, CA. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 August 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  6. "Northern Thunder win first Superleague title". www.bbc.co.uk. 21 May 2012. Archived from the original on 25 March 2020. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  7. "Northern Thunder put netball on map with a bang". www.burytimes.co.uk. 1 July 2009. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  8. "Welcome to the Thunderdome as netball stars come to Gorton". www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk. 26 January 2012. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  9. "Netball News from around the globe". www.womensportreport.com. 15 October 2011. Archived from the original on 3 March 2020. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  10. "Manchester Thunder: Superleague winners in name change". www.bbc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 22 March 2020. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  11. "Netball Superleague: Manchester Thunder 49-48 Surrey Storm". www.bbc.co.uk. 26 April 2014. Archived from the original on 3 March 2020. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  12. "Manchester Thunder crowned Superleague Champions after epic showdown with Wasps". www.manchesterthunder.co.uk. 18 May 2019. Archived from the original on 18 July 2019. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  13. "Netball Superleague Grand Final: Manchester Thunder win 57-52 against Wasps". www.bbc.co.uk. 19 May 2019. Archived from the original on 24 September 2019. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  14. "Sports Round-up". www.telegraph.co.uk. 27 May 2002. Archived from the original on 25 March 2020. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  15. "Sport in Brief". www.thetimes.co.uk. 17 May 2004. Archived from the original on 18 February 2020. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  16. "History". www.surreystormnetball.co.uk. Archived from the original on 27 May 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  17. "Surrey Storm beat Manchester Thunder to win Netball Superleague". www.skysports.com. 7 May 2016. Archived from the original on 9 May 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  18. "Netball Superleague 2016: Surrey Storm beat Manchester Thunder to retain title". www.bbc.co.uk. 7 May 2016. Archived from the original on 30 August 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  19. "Manchester Thunder clinch third MGT tournament title". www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk. 30 November 2014. Archived from the original on 29 April 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  20. "MGT 2015 - Write Up". www.manchesterthunder.com. 30 November 2015. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  21. "Thunder win Mike Greenwood Trophy". www.manchesterthunder.co.uk. 16 December 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  22. "Mike Greenwood Trophy win caps positive pre-season campaign for Team Bath Netball". www.teambath.com. 30 November 2015. Archived from the original on 12 February 2020. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  23. "Mike Greenwood Trophy Report 2016". www.manchesterthunder.co.uk. 12 December 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  24. "Team Bath reach final of Mike Greenwood Trophy in promising start to netball pre-season campaign". www.teambath.com. 14 December 2016. Archived from the original on 12 February 2020. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  25. "Thunder win 2018 Mike Greenwood Trophy". www.manchesterthunder.co.uk. 15 April 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  26. "The Mike Greenwood Trophy 2018". www.manchesterthunder.co.uk. 29 March 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  27. "Manchester Thunder continue strong Vitality Netball Superleague pre-season campaign". www.skysports.com. 16 December 2019. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  28. "Locations". www.manchesterthunder.co.uk. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  29. "Manchester Thunder vs Surrey Storm". www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk. 27 January 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  30. "Thunder suffer shock defeat in Semi-Final Showdown". www.manchesterthunder.co.uk. 21 April 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  31. "Match report: Manchester Thunder 53 Wasps 42". www.manchesterthunder.co.uk. 2 June 2018. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  32. "Fixtures Superleague 2020". www.manchesterthunder.co.uk. Archived from the original on 29 January 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  33. "Thunder unveil Erin Bell as first All-Star for Fast5 Championship". www.manchesterthunder.co.uk. 18 September 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  34. "Final All-Stars Confirmed for Fast5". www.fast5allstars.com. 11 October 2018. Archived from the original on 13 February 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  35. "In Memory of Mike Greenwood 1947 – 2011". www.oldhamnetball.co.uk. Archived from the original on 3 March 2020. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  36. "Tracey Neville handed head job at Northern Thunder". www.bbc.co.uk. 12 October 2011. Archived from the original on 23 March 2020. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  37. "Tracey Neville named as Interim England Netball Head Coach". www.manchesterthunder.co.uk. 19 March 2015. Archived from the original on 21 March 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  38. "Dan Ryan returns to Manchester Thunder". www.manchesterthunder.co.uk. 3 December 2018. Archived from the original on 4 June 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  39. "Thunder name new Coach". www.manchesterthunder.com. 19 June 2015. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  40. "Karen Greig appointed Manchester Thunder head coach". www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk. 5 August 2016. Archived from the original on 3 March 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
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