England centre courter Sara Bayman will once again captain the team, who are the reigning Netball Superleague champions.
Overseas signing Chelsea Pitman, who signed a one year contract with the Black and Yellows in July, is the only new player to join the squad for next season. Versatile Pitman, who can play at goal attack, centre and wing attack, last played for West Coast Fever in the Trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. England shooter Helen Housby, who famously scored the last-gasp winner in the Superleague final against Surrey in April, will be joined in attack by Krista Enziano, Alice Travis, Kathryn Turner and Eleanor Cardwell. Cardwell completes a remarkable transition from defence to attack, and is an exciting prospect after showing composed shooting form in the pre-season friendly against Yorkshire Jets in October. |
Bayman, who played for England in this summer’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Beth Cobden and Laura Malcolm complete a strong centre court for Thunder, despite them losing enigmatic Rachel Henry to Loughborough Lightning.
Experienced defender Emma Dovey and talented youngster Georgie Webster, who have both been selected for England A squad for the upcoming international game against Scotland in Liverpool, and Jodie Gibson will line up beside keeper Kerry Almond. Welsh international Sara Hale, who suffered a serious knee injury playing for Thunder in March, has joined the club’s defensive coaching staff. Marshall captained the England u19s this year and the centre-courter – along with Kindred – has been instrumental in securing three NPL Championships with Manchester Thunder. This reflects the strength and importance of the youth system at the club and to produce a team packed with home-grown talent. Thunder get their 2015 campaign under way in a rematch of this year’s final against Surrey Storm on January 26 in Manchester. |