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 founding members of the league. They were Superleague champions in 2012, 2014, 2019 and 2022. 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
CaptainNat Metcalf
Vice-captainKerry Almond, Shadine Van Der Merwe
LeagueNetball Superleague
Websitemanchesterthunder.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 founding 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]

In the 2022 season Manchester Thunder finished the regular season undefeated, becoming the first team to do so over 20 games. They defeated Team Bath in the semi-finals and then beat Loughborough Lightning in the final to claim their 4th Superleague title.

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
2022[19]Manchester Thunder60–53Loughborough LightningCopper 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.[20][21][22]

Season Winners Score Runners Up Venue
2012Manchester Thunder
2013Manchester Thunder
2014 [20]Manchester Thunder13–12Loughborough LightningThunderdome
2015 [21][23]Team Bath19–14Manchester Thunder
2016 [24][25]Wasps22–15Team BathBelle Vue Sports Village
2018 [26]Manchester Thunder31–29benecosMavericksOldham Leisure Centre [27]
2019 [22][28]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.[29] 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][30] They have also played home Netball Superleague matches at Manchester Arena.[31][32] In 2020 Manchester Thunder will play their home Superleague games at the National Basketball Performance Centre in the Belle Vue Sports Village.[33]

Notable players

2024 squad
2024 Manchester Thunder roster
PlayersCoaching staff
Nat. Name Position(s) DoB Height
England Natalie Metcalf (c) WA, GA 9 December 1992 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
England Kerry Almond (vc) GK 22 February 1986 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
England Amy Carter C, WD 28 October 1998 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
England Lois Pearson GA, WA 20 September 1999 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
South Africa Shadine van der Merwe (vc) GD, WD, GK 25 November 1992 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
England Taylor McKevitt WD, C 16 December 1997 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
England Josie Huckle GK, GD 24 September 1991 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
England Ella Bowen GD, GK, WD 1 January 2002 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
England Imogen Allison WD, C, WA 24 April 1998 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
South Africa Elmerè van der Berg GS, GA 19 October 2000 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
England Anya Williams GS, GA 19 October 2006 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
England Paige Reed GA, GS 9 July 1997 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Head coach
  • Karen Greig
Assistant coach
  • Gabrielle Towell


Notes
  • (c) – Captain
  • (cc) – Co-captain
  • (vc) – Vice-captain
  • Injured or on maternity leave – Injury / maternity leave
  • (TRP) – Temporary Replacement Player
Player profiles: Team website Last updated: 12 Sept 2023

Internationals
 England
 Australia
 Malawi
 New Zealand
 Northern Ireland
 South Africa

Sources:[36]

Head coaches
Coach Years
England Mike Greenwood [9][37]2008–2011
England Tracey Neville[9][38][39]2011–2015
Australia Dan Ryan[40][41]2015–2016
England Karen Greig [42]2016–

Honours

References
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  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.
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  23. "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.
  24. "Mike Greenwood Trophy Report 2016". www.manchesterthunder.co.uk. 12 December 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  25. "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.
  26. "Thunder win 2018 Mike Greenwood Trophy". www.manchesterthunder.co.uk. 15 April 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
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