The Netball Show
S7 Ep79: Caswell Palmer (24th Oct 2024)
Hi, this is Nat Meckoff. Flyhawk have developed a unique 3D kit designer that's fully customizable so if you're looking for a new kit for your team for the new season, visit flyhawk.com or email info@flyhawk.com with your ideas now. Nation Player is the easy to use, one-stop radio and audio app. Download Nation Player now on the Apple App Store or Google Play. Nation Player, where on are you? The netball show with Flyhawk. Raising the bar for netball and winning sports. It's a netball show with Flyhawk. Four-time netball Super League champions, Manchester Thunder have created a bit of a world first, a fully integrated netball franchise, casual Palmer. Thanks for your time and tell me a bit about the work that's gone into creating this. There's a lot of work behind closed doors with three of the main management teams from Spartans, myself, Jacob, Riley Cooper and Francis. Yeah, it's been maybe about two years in the making and as you know, this is new territory for men's and mixed netball and stuff. It's a massive task from Spartans and also Manchester Thunder family. Yeah, it's a lot of meetings, a lot of negotiation, obviously what Spartans have to offer, what we could bring to the table and also what we are expecting from Manchester Thunder themselves. They've been really accommodating and stuff and we just wanted to make sure that it was the best thing for a netball as a whole by introducing men's and mixed netballs to the fold. So there was a lot of negotiation and back and forth and meetings and stuff. So it's been going on for a while, take a lot of time, but we just wanted to make sure that the product that we were putting out was quite... Yeah, Spartans has had that strong impact in the north-west and this really strengthens things further, doesn't it? It does. I mean, and it also set a kind of a precedent also to actually give hope to the other franchises, why they feel in London and probably more not than our neighbours of the road and leads. And just to say that if Spartans can do it, they can do it, it gives them hope and hopefully we'll see the growth of men's and mixed netball attaching to the major franchises in the UK. Spartans from back in 2020, I think it was, wasn't it? So it must be really good for you just knowing how far things have come in short amount of time. Yeah, it was a pleasant surprise for me to be fair because when I settled to start Spartans with some of my netball bodies, we just wanted to make sure that we had a men's and mixed netball team or franchise within the area to ensure that boys who really wanted to play netball and after finishing primary school didn't necessarily have anywhere to go. And I know that mixed netball is dominated in London, so I've represented London teams because I originally represented at nights and then I went up north to Leeds at that time, Titans. And I thought, why not try and see if I can actually develop a mixed and mixed netball in Manchester as a whole to make it easier for this region. And that's where we started out, not looking down five years, the role that we would have actually been accepted in the Thunder family. So it's great for Spartans, but also even greater for the wider men's and mixed netball as a whole. We can't not mention James and obviously Thorns as well, but it really gives people in the Northwest just something to him for really, doesn't it? Yeah, and as you mentioned James, actually when James' mom reached out to me, I think James were about 14 years old and we had to get permission from Emna and Ryan was really accommodating for James. The plan is first Emna Champion's and mixed Champion's share because he was underage. So we had to negotiate with Emna to actually get him on board. And yeah, just to see how he has thrived and now doing really, really well within the Thorns. I mean, I was in St Kitts a few weeks ago, empowering at the men's Championship and James was there, and he played exceptionally well. And the Thorns as a whole played really really well. And it's like a trendsetter within the UK that a younger male now is fitted in into men's netball and also been used as a training partner for the female franchise and also giving the roles this practice matches for their upcoming series and also for the Commonwealth Games and World Championship. So it's our positive really. Caswell, we'll be back with you shortly. But first up, we can get in some more reaction to the Square News. Hi Andy, Jimmy here, the captain of the England Thorns and isn't this exciting, the first fully integrated men's and mixed team in a Super League franchise? I mean, the opportunity seemed pretty endless. But overall, this is a massive step forward for the sport in the UK. I'm so excited to see both the men's and mixed underside in action because I've always been a big fan of what Thunder have put out both on and off court for the last couple of years. But you add in the experience of the Manchester Thunder set up. Wow. I mean, this deal really shows that NSL 2.0 wants netball to reach as many people in the UK as possible. And I cannot wait to see what's next. Hi, it's Alex McLean from Surrey Hurricanes. I'm going to give you my thoughts on the very exciting announcement that Spartans are joining forces with. Under, I think this has to be one of the best and biggest announcements for mixed amends netball in the UK ever. Very exciting times for them is really going to elevate the mixed amends club. And I think it's also really good for the ladies Thunder team because they are definitely going to be challenged a lot more because Spartans have some really strong men in the club, lots of England internationals. So I can see why they have merged because it's going to benefit both ends. Obviously, for me, it's a bit disappointing because we won't ever have the chance to do that with Surrey Storm. But hopefully, other clubs in the UK will go hand in hand, perhaps like Leeds Rhinos, we're going with Leads Fury, Pels and Knights have quite a sort of unofficial partnership. So yeah, very exciting. And I'm hoping that other clubs can follow suit. The England men's and mixed netball president is Ryan Allen. Hi, Andy. Thanks as always for shining a spotlight on men's and mixed netball. Your support has always been greatly appreciated. With the recent news of the merger between Manchester Thunder and the Manchester Spartans to form the first ever ladies, men's and mixed netball franchise in the world, I found the news to be incredibly exciting for the growth and the visibility of men's and mixed netball. In recent years, we've seen significant progress with established men's and mixed clubs thriving across the country and new clubs continuing to emerge. This moved by a leading franchise as a clear recognition of the vital role that men's and mixed netball will play in the future of the sport. With the NSL moving towards professionalisation with 2.0, Thunder has recognised that to achieve these ambitions, netball must be open and inclusive to all, both on the court and in the stands. This is a pivotal moment in the progression of our sport, and I look forward to seeing the lasting impact it brought up. Hi, it's Jade Clark. Back with casual Palmer from Manchester Spartans, casual since not being part of the Super League as well. We're also seeing Jade being part of the squad, so what kind of boost is that? Having somebody like her as part of things? It's a massive boost. I mean, Jade is the most capped roses player I've all the time. Jade and I have had a really good relationship. I've known Jade for nearly 20 years. When I was more of a player, I used to play with the roses myself, so that's how I met Jade first. We've always had a great relationship, so when I started Spartans and stuff and I invited her down, she was really happy to come down. But yes, I mean, we can't get any more experience than Jade as an international player within the UK. So it was great, and also she has received all the accolades that she rightly so deserved. So having her on board is really, really massive, and it's also a great advertisement for Spartans as a whole, to have such a player and an ambassador for the sport, and be linked to it with the club. So yeah, it's great. How do you imagine the next couple of months are going to span out, then got plenty of things planned? Yeah, we've got quite a few things planned, some things that I can mention and some things that I can't because of... One of each, I don't mind negotiations. Process, but yeah, there's a lot of things coming up where I'm collaboration with Tonda as a whole, and also even while I feel, as I said previously, I wouldn't necessarily be able to dive into that just yet. But yeah, just watch this space. You'll see a lot of interesting things coming to the fold. And yeah, we're hoping to represent men's and mixed netball with the best of probability and to showcase what men's have to offer in a female dominated sport. And I assume more information, just the present on the Manchester Thunder website, Manchester Thunder UK. Yeah, it's on there, and there's a lot more coming out. So, quite a lot of people reaching out to me, asking me what does this mean and stuff. But yeah, as I said, it's the first step, and we're hoping and planning to build greater things and breaking down barriers and enjoying it while we're on the journey. And finally, as a respected member of Team White, how do you usually spend your off-season then you're looking forward to next season? I'm definitely looking forward to the next season. I mean, my off-season, I don't necessarily think I have a off-season because I'm doubly in so many different things. I mean, I officiate in the Super League, I play, and I coach. So, I'm not sure I have a full off-season because as soon as one season finishes, another one starts. So, now I'm doing the Premier League, the England netball, and Super League is coming up in a few months. And M Nav just announced that they're going to have their first winter league for men's and makes netball. So, I mean, it's a 360 for me. I don't necessarily think I have a off-season, but when I do get some time off, I love to travel and chill and just watch various different sports. Brilliant, keeping nice and busy. More on the men's and makes netball. A bit of a Manchester Thunder first on Manchester Thunder core UK. Caswell, thanks for your time. Thank you for having me. The netball show is now also available via SkyQ and Sky Glass. Select sports and we're on the podcast's rail.
Caswell Palmer, founder and Head Coach of the new Manchester Thunder Men’s and Mixed netball,