September 2019: Netballer Laura secures place with Manchester Thunder

NETBALL player Laura Whitworth has won a coveted place in the Manchester Thunder Futures Programme.

Year 11 student, Laura, began playing the sport in primary school and was picked from 300 hopefuls for just one of 40 places in the two Manchester Thunder U16s Netball Teams.

She said: “I first trialled for the team two years ago and I never expected to get in to the U14s team.

“I had been playing for Rochdale when I was told all about Thunder and they recommended that I try to get into Bury. However, now I am in the Thunder U16s team I am only allowed to play for them.

“I have been playing for six years and play centre. To get a place is very hard because people come from all over, including Wales, to trial for a place.”

As part of the Performance Pathway, Thunder aims to find, inspire and develop the next generation of leading netballers, not just for their team but the North West and England.

The netballers train at Wright Robinson College at Abbey Hey, Gorton.