Highland Fever: Netball team ready to take on National Championships

It’s training time for this netball team.

These players are part of one of Scotland’s only men’s and mixed netball team.

Highland Fever have been playing netball together since they were founded in 2022.

The team is made up of part time, voluntary members who fund their participation in the national league.

But since there is no league in Scotland, the team are part of the England’s Men and Mixed Netball Association.

They compete in the North of England tournament and face travelling for around three hours for matches.

And they now find themselves competing at the National Championships this weekend in Leicestershire.

However the team say it’s getting difficult to keep up with the rising costs, with fundraising officer Connor Littler noting they’re now looking at forking out hundreds to be able to compete.

He said: “The league has gotten bigger, which is great, but a lot of [funding costs] we have had to shoulder ourselves just as voluntary members.

“But, particularly around this time of year when we go down to the National Championships, it’s costing upwards of £300 per player just to be there and represent Scotland in this tournament.”

With the lack of available playing time here in Scotland, members of the men’s team also represent Team England at a national level.

Netball is traditionally viewed as a women’s sport and has a strong reputation at the Commonwealth Games.

It has been included in every Games since the sport was introduced in 1998.

When it returns to the roster in Glasgow next year, it is the only sport to not include both the men’s and women’s game.

But these men are hoping the rise of the men’s game in other Commonwealth countries will boost momentum here.

Club captain Daniel Lewis said: “Obviously, we’d never say no to more netball particularly the men’s and mixed as it gives us a chance to play.

“But it’s one of the few sports at the moment that doesn’t have the pairing across.

“But it is a developing process we’re on at the moment, the pathways are quite strong for that.

“England has its programme, a lot of other countries have their programmes as well.

“A lot of commonwealth countries are very strong on both the men and the mixed as well as the women’s.

“We’d love to see it at the Commonwealth Games.”

It comes as World Netball announced the first men’s world cup in 2027 to run alongside the women’s tournament.

But there is uncertainty around whether Scotland would be represented.

This team hope they will.

Founding member Bob Mather said: “Essentially, we’re doing the same thing that women have dealt with in things like football where it’s a predominantly male sport and the women have tried hard to get in and it’s difficult.

“We’re the same but the opposite way around – we’re men trying to get into a predominately women’s sport.

“It’s getting there but it’s just not there yet especially in Scotland.”

While the future is unknown, this team are continuing to battle on and off the court.

Scottish Netball said: “Netball is a sport for all, and we encourage anyone interested in playing to join a local club.

“As a member-led organisation, we also welcome any club – whether long-established or newly formed – to become part of our affiliated network.

“We are committed to creating and growing inclusive opportunities across the sport.

“This year, we’re proud to have introduced a mixed category to our Scottish Cup competition – an exciting step towards broadening participation.”