Team Bath is an English netball team based at the University of Bath. In 2005–06 they were both founder members and the inaugural champions of the Super League. They were Super League champions again in 2006–07, 2008–09, 2009–10 and 2013, and British Fast5 All-Stars Champions in 2021. In 2023, England Netball announced plans to relaunch the Netball Super League in 2025, with an aim to professionalise the league. During the tender process, the new operating standards for clubs made it unfeasible for Team Bath's senior team to participate in the league and it was disbanded after the 2024 season. The franchise was given a license to continue to deliver the southwest performance pathway on behalf of England Netball including a NXT Gen team.
The netball team is one of several sports teams based at the University of Bath that use the Team Bath brand name. Others include an association football team and a field hockey team.
History Early years The modern Team Bath netball team was formed during the late 1990s following the merger of several clubs and teams. These include Bath Netball Club, Bath Tigers and the Toucans Netball Club. The Team Bath Toucans name is still used by Team Bath's England Netball Premier League team.
Super Cup Between 2001 and 2005, Team Bath Force, together with five other franchises – Northern Flames, London Tornadoes, London Hurricanes, University of Birmingham Blaze and Northern Thunder – competed in the Super Cup. In 2004, with a squad that included Sara Bayman, Rachel Dunn, Jess Garland, Tamsin Greenway and Geva Mentor, Team Bath won the Super Cup. In the final they defeated Northern Thunder 49–43. In 2005, with a squad that included Sara Bayman and Pamela Cookey, Team Bath also won the BUCS netball championship for the first time.
Netball Super League In 2005 Team Bath were named as the South West England/West of England franchise in the new Netball Super League. Together with Brunel Hurricanes, Celtic Dragons, Leeds Carnegie, Galleria Mavericks, Northern Thunder, Loughborough Lightning and Team Northumbria, Team Bath were founder members of the league. In 2005–06 with a squad that included Pamela Cookey, Rachel Dunn, Stacey Francis, Jess Garland, Tamsin Greenway and Geva Mentor, Team Bath won the inaugural Netball Super League title. Team Bath won further Netball Super League titles in 2006–07, 2008–09, 2009–10 and 2013. In 2023, England Netball announced plans to relaunch the Netball Superleague in 2025, with an aim to professionalise the league. During the tender process, the new operating standards for clubs made it unfeasible for Team Bath's senior team to participate in the league. This was due to the lack of arena provision, which formed a core part of England Netball’s requirements and despite ongoing discussions with potential partners there were no arenas in the region that met the requirements at the time. The team was disbanded after the 2024 season, however the franchise was given a license to continue to deliver the southwest performance pathway including a NXT Gen team.
Senior finals Super Cup Season Winners Score Runners up Venue2004 Team Bath Force49–43Northern ThunderBlackpool
Netball Super League Grand Finals Between 2006 and 2009–10, Team Bath played in four out of five Netball Super League Grand Finals. They reached their first Grand Final for eight years in 2021. Season Winners Score Runners up Venue2005–06Team Bath43–35Galleria MavericksGuildford Spectrum2006–07Team Bath53–45Galleria MavericksGuildford Spectrum2008–09Team Bath54–46Galleria MavericksCoventry Skydome2009–10Team Bath51–44Hertfordshire MavericksTrent FM Arena2013Team Bath62–56Celtic DragonsUniversity of Worcester Arena2021Loughborough Lightning49-32Team BathCopper Box Arena
Fast5 Netball All-Stars Championship Team Bath played in the inaugural British Fast5 Netball All-Stars Championship final in 2017 and won the competition for the first time in 2021.
Season Winners Score Runners up Venue2017 Loughborough Lightning35–33Team BathThe O2 Arena2021Team Bath23-17Saracens MavericksCopper Box Arena
Home venue Team Bath play their home matches in the Team Bath Arena at the Sports Training Village on the University of Bath campus.
Notable players 2024 squad
Internationals
Ama Agbeze Imogen Allison Sara Bayman Pamela Cookey Kadeen Corbin Sasha Corbin Shaunagh Craig Sophie Drakeford-Lewis Rachel Dunn Stacey Francis Tamsin Greenway Layla Guscoth Serena Guthrie Geva Mentor Yasmin Parsons Mia Ritchie Rachel Shaw Jess Thirlby Eboni Usoro-Brown
Shaunagh Craig Fionnuala Toner
Khanyisa Chawane Lenize Potgieter Karla Pretorius Zanele Vimbela
Vangelee Williams
Claire Brownie
Ursula Bowers Suzy Drane Bethan Dyke Chelsea Lewis Anna Mayes
Coaches Head coaches Coach Years Lyn Gunson1999–2005 Jan Crabtree 2005–2008 Jess Thirlby2008–2015 Anna Stembridge2015–2022 Asha Francis2022–2024 NXT Gen Coach Years Natalie Roddy & Anya Le Monnier2025-
Directors of netball Coach Years Lyn Gunson2005–2008 Jess Thirlby2015–2019 Jo Vann 2019–2021
Honours Netball Superleague Winners: 2005–06, 2006–07, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2013: 5 Runners-up: 2021: 1 British Fast5 Netball All-Stars Championship Winners: 2021: 1 Runners up: 2017: 1 Super Cup Winners: 2004: 1 Mike Greenwood Trophy Winners: 2015: 1 Runners up: 2016: 1
References
External links Team Bath on Facebook Team Bath on Twitter