THE Swindon & District Netball Association is hoping to build on the national team’s success at this summer’s World Cup as a new season gets under way this weekend.

England earned a bronze medal at the summer showpiece and the Association, which recently celebrated its 75th anniversary, aims to capitalise as the winter league gets started tomorrow.

Played on Saturdays from September through to April, the league boasts 55 teams and more than 500 women playing across five different leagues at the Dorcan Dome venue.

“We are really looking forward to the start of the 2015-16 season and all the teams coming together at the Dorcan Dome, especially after all the recent excitement surrounding the Netball World Cup,” said Denise Sell, chair of the association.

“Our organisation is very proud of the recent England team’s achievements and hopes to see some of our own players reaching this level in the near future.”

Swindon continues to lead the way in netball development, with winter, summer, over 35s, and junior leagues, as well as walking netball, back to netball activities, and sessions for women with learning disabilities, offering numerous ways for women to access the sport in the local area.

This season, for the first time, a crèche will also be on offer during the winter league to provide childcare for those who need it.

Sell added: “It is really important that we give as many women and girls the opportunity to take part in netball. Providing these additional sessions and provisions means that women from all walks of life can access our wonderful game.”

Teams from 19 clubs will play across five divisions, the clubs being Abbey Meads, Burmah, Coleview, Corsham, Croft, Delta Reds, Fairford, Faringdon, Ferndale, Jets, Lawn, Marlborough, Moredon, Nationwide, Purton, Pinehurst, Raychem, Razzle Dazzle, Wootton Bassett.

In addition, Raychem boasts a team in Regional League One, with Pinehurst, Abbey Meads and Lawn having teams in Regional League Two and Nationwide in Three.

To qualify for regional, the team has to win Division One of the Swindon League and then play the winners of the Moonraker League and the Salisbury League.

The overall winner represents Wiltshire in the Regional League play-offs, with the South West Regional League play-offs against teams from Avon, Somerset, Gloucestershire, Bristol, Devon and Cornwall.

The top two teams from the play-offs go into Regional League Three, with the bottom team returning to their respective local league.

TOMORROW’S FIXTURES

10am: Raychem B v Burmah A, Nationwide B v Lawn B, Raychem D v Abbey Meads D, Wootton Bassett A v Croft D, Lawn E v Delta Reds D, Pinehurst A v Moredon A.

11.30am: Razzle Dazzle v Corsham, Moredon B v Croft B, Lawn C v Fairford B, Pinehurst D v Ferndale, Raychem F v Abbey Meads F, Burmah B v Pinehurst B.

1.10pm: Croft A v Raychem A, Pinehurst C v Abbey Meads A, Nationwide C v Abbey Meads C, Wootton Bassett B v Delta Reds C, Pinehurst E v Abbey Meads E, Purton v Lawn D, Fairford C v Croft E.

2.30pm: Nationwide A v Delta Reds A, Raychem C v Abbey Meads B, Jets A v Croft C, Faringdon v Raychem E, Coleview v Marlborough, Burmah C v Moredon C.

  • For more information, visit swindon-netball.co.uk , follow Swindon Netball on Facebook or @swindonnetball on Instagram and Twitter.