In the early hours of Saturday 13th July, 95 members of Ashtead All Stars Netball Club left Ashtead to descend on Liverpool for the Netball World Cup. Two coaches left Ashtead with all the girls wearing our club colour - purple, and mums, dads, siblings and grandparents also joined in wearing AAS purple t-shirts and AAS World Cup Caps. Tour organiser David Grimshaw said "We have been planning this trip for a year - booking 95 World Cup tickets in itself was a huge challenge, but well and truly worthwhile. It really was a once in a lifetime experience to watch the England Roses play in the World Cup proudly wearing our own club colours and one which all the girls, and parents, will remember forever. Ashtead All Stars certainly put themselves on the map with the sea of purple swarming through the FanZone and Liverpool Arena."
Ashtead All Stars watched a total of 8 matches in their 36 hour Liverpool trip, including two matches where the England Roses were competing, and three of the other top ranked teams in the world, New Zealand, South Africa and Jamaica. The England Roses did not disappoint and beat Scotland 70-34 and Samoa 90-24. Ashtead All Stars not only had support for the England Roses, but with Scotland, Jamaica and South Africa represented by members of the club, there was plenty to cheer for!!! Mikki Austin was on court and got a huge cheer from our crowd as she was working with the commentating team!
To complete the tournament, Ashtead All Stars hosted a Netball World Cup Final BBQ at the Ashtead Football Club on Sunday 21st July. There was netball pong, a shooting competition, dads and girls walking netball matches, food and fun as well as the big screening of the Bronze medal play off and the final match between Australia and New Zealand. “It was a great end to the tournament for the girls and their families. We have had so much fun following the England Roses and despite them losing out to New Zealand in the semis, we were delighted to see the team take the Bronze medal and thoroughly enjoyed the whole fortnight celebrating netball!” said event organiser Andy Nash.
The Netball World Cup really has been a great experience for our club and we can’t wait for the season to start again!
Liverpool group photo – AAS in Liverpool
Media board photo - L- R Charlotte Cotchings, Gemma Argyle, Darcie Nash, Holly Grimshaw, Sophie Conner & Niamh Hyde. Front Left Imogen Coldicott
David Grimshaw and Jude (the tournament mascot)
BBQ team – Andy and Karen Nash, Sally Grimshaw