The Victoria Park regeneration project, led by local netball and sports enthusiast Sarah Gandon, is set to significantly impact the community by transforming existing facilities into a versatile public space. The project focuses on upgrading outdoor courts with improved drainage, making them suitable for year-round use. This development is especially significant for netball enthusiasts, providing a bright and inviting space that encourages more individuals to participate in the sport.

Significance for the Local Community

The transformation of Victoria Park holds immense significance for the local community. Mhairi Patience, National Development Officer at Netball Scotland, explains, “The Victoria Park regeneration project aims to transform the existing courts into a versatile public space offering outdoor netball and basketball courts through installation of rotating posts, along with facilities for various activities such as cycle skills, roller skating, skateboarding, and urban sports. Therefore, it holds immense significance for the local community, particularly for netball enthusiasts.”

The upgraded facilities will vastly improve access to netball, offering a bright and inviting space that encourages more individuals to participate in the sport. Patience adds, “This will create a bright and inviting space for netball, encouraging more individuals to participate in the sport.”

Key Objectives and Importance of Free Access

The primary objective of the project is to provide free-to-use netball courts, eliminating financial barriers and making sports more accessible to all community members. Mhairi Patience highlights, “This initiative aims to eliminate financial barriers, making netball more accessible to the community. By offering cost-free access to netball facilities, the project seeks to promote inclusivity, community engagement, and overall physical well-being among individuals of all ages and backgrounds.”

How to Support the Project

The Glasgow Netball Association and Victoria Park Community Trust, along with other partners, are working to raise funds for the project. The enhanced facility will feature versatile spaces for various activities and community events. To find out more about the project and how you can support this initiative, please follow the link here.

The Scottish Cup is widely recognised as the biggest competition across Netball in Scotland. Teams enter up and down the country to take home the top prize. Last years final was played in-front of an arena crowd at the Emirates, Glasgow.

With the Scottish Cup now in full swing and the knockout rounds having commenced the competition is fiercer than ever. All teams have the same goal, to be the 2023 Scottish Cup Champions.

Wednesday the 14^th of December saw Caledonian Eagles take on Edinburgh University 3’s in what was an incredibly closely contested match. Both sides hunting for the win and giving it their absolute all.  Each quarter was nail biting and both sides played some brilliant netball.  In the end it was Edinburgh University who walked away with the win, with the final score being 56-53.

Edinburgh University 1’s were the Scottish Cup runners up to Edinburgh Accies Netball Club in the 2022 Scottish Cup Final, showing the high level of netball that is played within this club, making them ones to watch.

We spoke to the captains after the match to get their views;

“It was a great match against Edinburgh University, they brought a lot of energy and had some lovely shots. We dug deep which is always great to see in your team and everyone played with their heads up and with confidence which always makes me so proud to play with a group of fierce strong women.”

• Lauren Leigh Porter, Caledonian Eagles Captain

“Really great match today. Such a competitive game which brought out the best from both sides. Hats off to Caley for a lovely game of netball, such a pleasure to play against teams like them. We kept pushing through the whole game and had some great turnover. Shooting did an amazing job today, shout out to them. Well done to all these girls, a lot of effort put in today and we got the result we wanted because of it!”

• Olivia Shannon, Edinburgh University 3’s Captain

Edinburgh University 3’s will progress onto the third round of the Scottish Cup.