Scottish Thistles’ Long Squad for 2023/2024 Season

Netball Scotland is thrilled to unveil the Scottish Thistles’ long squad for the upcoming 2023/2024 season, The trials, held earlier this month under the guidance of former Head Coach Tamsin Greenway, marked the most fiercely competitive selection process to date, showcasing the immense talent and dedication within Scottish netball.

The squads for the 2023/2024 season are as follows:

Scottish Thistles:

– Emma Barrie

– Cerys Cairns

– Bethan Goodwin

– Niamh McCall

– Emma Love

– Jazmine Moore

– Kelly Boyle

– Hannah Leighton

– Iona Christian

– Sarah MacPhail

– Erin Bolland

– Hannah Grant

– Emily Nicholl

– Rachel Conway

– Cerys Finn

– Anna Fairclough

Scotland A:

– Charlotte Dunkley

– Zara Flett

– Lucy Gaw

– Mia Mathewson

– Gill Thomson

– Alice McGeachy

– Felicity Rome

Karen Atkinson, Netball Scotland’s Performance Director, expressed her excitement, stating, “The strength and depth within Scottish netball has never been better, which made this the most competitive selection process to date.”

In the past year, the talent emerging from the Scottish pathway has been truly inspiring, with many athletes stepping up and delivering outstanding performances on the international stage.

“We have made significant changes to our pathway set-up, enhancing the development of the athletes through quality training and competition opportunities. This is now having a positive effect, with athletes challenging for places and seamlessly transitioning to the Senior level,” added Atkinson.

“It is thrilling to witness Erin Bolland, Jazmine Moore, and Anna Fairclough make the transition to the Thistles squad, following their impressive displays at the U21 level. Additionally, Cerys Finn, Cerys Cairns, and Hannah Grant, who all featured at the Netball World Cup, have consistently delivered outstanding performances when called upon in the Thistles squad.”

Six athletes have been elevated to Scottish Thistles for the first time with this selection bringing new energy to the squad as they embark on the new Netball cycle,

“The athletes returning from the World Cup are more determined than ever to make their mark on the global stage. With the entire squad being exceptionally young and numerous cycles ahead of them, we eagerly anticipate their development in the coming years.” Adds Atkinson.

Furthermore, this season marks the first-time call-ups into the senior environment for Lucy Gaw, Charlotte Dunkley, Zara Flett, and Felicity Rome, all of whom have showcased their potential at age-group levels and are now poised to become future Thistles.

Late trials will be conducted, offering Chloe Carchrie and Kaitlin Lawrence the opportunity to showcase their skills following their ongoing rehabilitation and return to training plans.

Looking ahead, Netball Scotland will actively search for a new Head Coach following the departure of Tamsin Greenway last month. The recruitment process is expected to commence in early 2024, as the organisation prepares for the next chapter in Scottish netball’s journey.

The Scottish Thistles are Scotland’s national netball team, currently ranked 10th in the world. They recently achieved a commendable 10th place at the Netball World Cup 2023 in South Africa, where they stood out as the youngest team in the competition.

Notably, 12 players from the Thistles’ long squad are active participants in the Netball Super League, emphasizing their dedication to top-level competition. An additional 10 players are engaged in the Super League pathways, showcasing the Thistles’ commitment to developing emerging talent.

The Thistles’ journey exemplifies teamwork, resilience, and ambition, capturing the attention of netball enthusiasts in Scotland and beyond.