The Severn Stars kicked off the season in style with an official launch event at the University of Gloucestershire’s Oxstalls campus on Wednesday 15th February. Players, support staff, sponsors, supporters and media came together to celebrate the brand new Vitality Netball Superleague team as we launched the website and presented the athletes with their playing dresses.
The event included presentations from key Severn Stars individuals, including founders and directors Dr Anita Navin from the University of Gloucestershire and Mick Donovan from the University of Worcester who outlined the philosophy and foundation of the club, the hard work that went on in behind the scenes to make the dream of a Superleague team a reality and the importance of investing time into high quality players and coaches.
Director of Netball and former England captain Pamela Cookey unveiled the team’s Mizuno playing kit, stating her mantra ‘look good, feel good and play good.’ And that the dresses definitely made them look good and was sure the rest would follow.
Head Coach Mo’onia Gerrard presented all the players with their new kit and snapback caps and talked about the culture that they have been creating since they first met for pre-season and how the club looked for players who are ‘real and willing to grow’.
The kit – designed by sportswear firm Mizuno which has a clothing deal with the team – depicts a night sky filled with stars to reflect the name of the team and the stars that play for it. The away kit is sky blue in colour, while home games will be played in midnight blue kit.
The club signed a three-year deal with hot tub manufacturer, Arctic Spas, in January and has its name emblazoned on the match day team kit.
One of the audience members stated “It was great to see the girls presented with their kit and good to learn a little more about the players themselves. The excitement and team spirit was fantastic to see!”.
The team play their first ever Vitality Netball Superleague match away at Surrey Storm on Saturday 18th February.
The first home match at the University of Worcester Arena is against Celtic Dragons on Friday 3rd March, starting at 7.30pm. Tickets available at www.severnstars.co.uk
The Severn Stars is a joint partnership between the University of Worcester and University of Gloucestershire.
