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Manchester Thunder

Manchester Thunder
Nickname(s)Black and Yellows
Founded2001
Based inManchester
RegionsNorth West England
Home venueNational Basketball Performance Centre
Belle Vue Sports Village
Head coachKaren Greig
CaptainNat Metcalf
Vice-captainKerry Almond, Shadine Van Der Merwe
LeagueNetball Superleague
Websitemanchesterthunder.co.uk

Uniform

Manchester Thunder are an English netball team based in Manchester. Their senior team plays in the Netball Super League. In 2005–06, Thunder were founding members of the league. They were Super League champions in 2012, 2014, 2019 and 2022. Between 2001 and 2012 they played as Northern Thunder and were originally based in Bury, Greater Manchester.

History

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Northern Thunder

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Between 2001 and 2005 Northern Thunder, together with five other franchises – Northern Flames, London Tornadoes, London Hurricanes, University of Birmingham Blaze and Team Bath Force – competed in the Super Cup. Northern Thunder won the 2002 Super Cup. Northern Thunder players from the Super Cup era included Amanda Newton, Tracey Neville, Jade Clarke and Sara Bayman[1][2][3][4]

In 2005 Northern Thunder were named as the North West England franchise in the new Netball Super League. Together with Brunel Hurricanes, Celtic Dragons, Leeds Carnegie, Galleria Mavericks, Team Bath, Loughborough Lightning and Team Northumbria, Northern Thunder were founding members of the league.[5] In 2012, Thunder won their first Superleague title. Janelle Lawson scored 33 goals as they defeated Surrey Storm 57–55 in the grand final.[6]

Manchester Thunder

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In 2012 Thunder relocated from Bury, Greater Manchester to Gorton.[7][8][9] They subsequently changed their name from Northern Thunder to Manchester Thunder ahead of the 2013 season.[10] In 2014 Thunder won their second Super League title after defeating Surrey Storm 49–48 in the grand final.[11] In 2019 Thunder won their third Super League title.[12][13]

In the 2022 season Manchester Thunder finished the regular season undefeated, becoming the first team to do so over 20 games. They defeated Team Bath in the semi-finals and then beat Loughborough Lightning in the final to claim their 4th Super League title.

In the 2023 season they finished 3rd in the regular season standings and were defeated in their semi-final by the eventual champions Loughborough Lightning. They beat Surrey Storm in the third-place play-off.

In the 2024 season Manchester Thunder finished the regular season top of the table, having only lost one game - against Loughborough Lightning at home. They faced Severn Stars in the Semi Final, beating them 63-54, to set up a final against Loughborough, where they were defeated 54-70.

Senior finals

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Super Cup

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Season Winners Score Runners Up Venue
2002 [3][14] Northern Thunder University of Birmingham Blaze
2004 [15] Team Bath Force 49–43 Northern Thunder Blackpool

Netball Super League Grand Finals

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Season Winners Score Runners Up Venue
2012[6][16] Northern Thunder 57–55 Surrey Storm SportHouse
2014[11] Manchester Thunder 49–48 Surrey Storm Worcester Arena
2016[17][18] Surrey Storm 55–53 Manchester Thunder Copper Box Arena
2019[12][13] Manchester Thunder 57–52 Wasps Copper Box Arena
2022[19] Manchester Thunder 60–53 Loughborough Lightning Copper Box Arena
2024[20] Loughborough Lightning 70–54 Manchester Thunder Resorts World Arena

Mike Greenwood Trophy

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Since 2012 Manchester Thunder have hosted the Manchester Invitational Tournament. The winners are awarded the Mike Greenwood Trophy, named in honour of the former Northern Thunder head coach who died in 2011. It is usually played during pre-season.[21][22][23]

Season Winners Score Runners Up Venue
2012 Manchester Thunder
2013 Manchester Thunder
2014 [21] Manchester Thunder 13–12 Loughborough Lightning Thunderdome
2015 [22][24] Team Bath 19–14 Manchester Thunder
2016 [25][26] Wasps 22–15 Team Bath Belle Vue Sports Village
2018 [27] Manchester Thunder 31–29 benecosMavericks Oldham Leisure Centre [28]
2019 [23][29] Manchester Thunder 49–42 Saracens Mavericks Platt Lane Sports Complex

Home venues

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Thunder train and play their home games at several venues and locations throughout Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Cheshire[30] with their main training facility and head office at MMU Platt Lane Sports Complex. Between 2008–09 and 2011, Northern Thunder played their home Super League games at Castle Leisure Centre in Bury, Greater Manchester. In 2012 Manchester Thunder began playing their home Super League games at Wright Robinson College in Gorton. When Manchester Thunder played home games there, the arena was referred to as the Manchester Thunderdome.[7][8][9][31] Since 2020 Manchester Thunder have played a majority of their home Super League games at the National Basketball Performance Centre in the Belle Vue Sports Village [32] with other home Netball Super League matches being played at Manchester Arena[33][34] and in 2025 they will be playing at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool for the first time.

Notable players

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2025 squad

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2025 Manchester Thunder roster
Players Coaching staff
Nat. Name Position(s) DoB Height
England Natalie Metcalf Maternity leave WA, GA 9 December 1992 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
England Amy Carter (c) C, WD 28 October 1998 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
England Lois Pearson GA, WA 20 September 1999 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
South Africa Nicola Smith GD, GK 25 April 2000 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
England Taylor McKevitt (vc) WD, C 16 December 1997 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
England Josie Huckle (vc) GK, GD 24 September 1991 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
South Africa Elmeré van der Berg GS, GA 19 October 2000 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
England Paige Reed GA, GS 9 July 1997 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
England Elia McCormick GD, GK, WD 25 November 1999 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
England Emma Rayner C, WA 7 June 2002 1.69 m (5 ft 7 in)
Head coach
  • Karen Greig
Assistant coach
  • Laura Malcolm


Notes
  • (c) – Captain
  • (cc) – Co-captain
  • (vc) – Vice-captain
  • Injured or on maternity leave – Injury / maternity leave
  • (TRP) – Temporary Replacement Player
Player profiles: Team website Last updated: 12 July 2025

Internationals

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 England
 Australia
 Malawi
 New Zealand
 Northern Ireland
 South Africa

Sources:[37]

Head coaches

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Coach Years
England Mike Greenwood [9][38] 2008–2011
England Tracey Neville[9][39][40] 2011–2015
Australia Dan Ryan[41][42] 2015–2016
England Karen Greig [43] 2016–present

Honours

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References

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  1. ^ "Netball: Silly name brigade get Super start". www.telegraph.co.uk. 4 May 2001. Archived from the original on 18 February 2020. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  2. ^ "Classy ladies". www.chroniclelive.co.uk. 14 May 2003. Archived from the original on 18 February 2020. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Netball: Tornadoes put wind up Hurricanes as Newton has a real stormer; Super Cup (Bath)". www.thefreelibrary.com. 25 May 2003. Archived from the original on 3 March 2020. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  4. ^ "Thunder struck by Force power". www.sportfocus.com. 24 May 2003. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  5. ^ Dr. Louise Mansfield & Dr. Lara Killick (1 January 2012). "The UK Netball Superleague: A Case Study of Franchising in Elite Women's Sport" (PDF). Brunel University, School of Sport and Education, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UK; and University of the Pacific, Department of Health, Exercise and Sport Science, Stockton, CA. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 August 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  6. ^ a b "Northern Thunder win first Superleague title". www.bbc.co.uk. 21 May 2012. Archived from the original on 25 March 2020. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  7. ^ a b "Northern Thunder put netball on map with a bang". www.burytimes.co.uk. 1 July 2009. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  8. ^ a b "Welcome to the Thunderdome as netball stars come to Gorton". www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk. 26 January 2012. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  9. ^ a b c d "Netball News from around the globe". www.womensportreport.com. 15 October 2011. Archived from the original on 3 March 2020. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  10. ^ "Manchester Thunder: Superleague winners in name change". www.bbc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 22 March 2020. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  11. ^ a b "Netball Superleague: Manchester Thunder 49-48 Surrey Storm". www.bbc.co.uk. 26 April 2014. Archived from the original on 3 March 2020. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  12. ^ a b "Manchester Thunder crowned Superleague Champions after epic showdown with Wasps". www.manchesterthunder.co.uk. 18 May 2019. Archived from the original on 18 July 2019. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  13. ^ a b "Netball Superleague Grand Final: Manchester Thunder win 57-52 against Wasps". www.bbc.co.uk. 19 May 2019. Archived from the original on 24 September 2019. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  14. ^ "Sports Round-up". www.telegraph.co.uk. 27 May 2002. Archived from the original on 25 March 2020. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  15. ^ "Sport in Brief". www.thetimes.co.uk. 17 May 2004. Archived from the original on 18 February 2020. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  16. ^ "History". www.surreystormnetball.co.uk. Archived from the original on 27 May 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  17. ^ "Surrey Storm beat Manchester Thunder to win Netball Superleague". www.skysports.com. 7 May 2016. Archived from the original on 9 May 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  18. ^ "Netball Superleague 2016: Surrey Storm beat Manchester Thunder to retain title". www.bbc.co.uk. 7 May 2016. Archived from the original on 30 August 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  19. ^ "Thunder beat Lightning to win Superleague title". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  20. ^ "Loughborough Lightning defend their title with an imperious Grand Final win over Manchester Thunder". England Netball. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  21. ^ a b "Manchester Thunder clinch third MGT tournament title". www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk. 30 November 2014. Archived from the original on 29 April 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  22. ^ a b "MGT 2015 - Write Up". www.manchesterthunder.com. 30 November 2015. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  23. ^ a b "Thunder win Mike Greenwood Trophy". www.manchesterthunder.co.uk. 16 December 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  24. ^ "Mike Greenwood Trophy win caps positive pre-season campaign for Team Bath Netball". www.teambath.com. 30 November 2015. Archived from the original on 12 February 2020. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  25. ^ "Mike Greenwood Trophy Report 2016". www.manchesterthunder.co.uk. 12 December 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  26. ^ "Team Bath reach final of Mike Greenwood Trophy in promising start to netball pre-season campaign". www.teambath.com. 14 December 2016. Archived from the original on 12 February 2020. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  27. ^ "Thunder win 2018 Mike Greenwood Trophy". www.manchesterthunder.co.uk. 15 April 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  28. ^ "The Mike Greenwood Trophy 2018". www.manchesterthunder.co.uk. 29 March 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  29. ^ "Manchester Thunder continue strong Vitality Netball Superleague pre-season campaign". www.skysports.com. 16 December 2019. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  30. ^ "Locations". www.manchesterthunder.co.uk. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  31. ^ "Manchester Thunder vs Surrey Storm". www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk. 27 January 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  32. ^ "Fixtures Superleague 2020". www.manchesterthunder.co.uk. Archived from the original on 29 January 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  33. ^ "Thunder suffer shock defeat in Semi-Final Showdown". www.manchesterthunder.co.uk. 21 April 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  34. ^ "Match report: Manchester Thunder 53 Wasps 42". www.manchesterthunder.co.uk. 2 June 2018. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  35. ^ "Thunder unveil Erin Bell as first All-Star for Fast5 Championship". www.manchesterthunder.co.uk. 18 September 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  36. ^ "Final All-Stars Confirmed for Fast5". www.fast5allstars.com. 11 October 2018. Archived from the original on 13 February 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  37. ^ "Manchester Thunder Announce New Captain". Manchester Thunder Supporters Club. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  38. ^ "In Memory of Mike Greenwood 1947 – 2011". www.oldhamnetball.co.uk. Archived from the original on 3 March 2020. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  39. ^ "Tracey Neville handed head job at Northern Thunder". www.bbc.co.uk. 12 October 2011. Archived from the original on 23 March 2020. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  40. ^ "Tracey Neville named as Interim England Netball Head Coach". www.manchesterthunder.co.uk. 19 March 2015. Archived from the original on 21 March 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  41. ^ "Dan Ryan returns to Manchester Thunder". www.manchesterthunder.co.uk. 3 December 2018. Archived from the original on 4 June 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  42. ^ "Thunder name new Coach". www.manchesterthunder.com. 19 June 2015. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  43. ^ "Karen Greig appointed Manchester Thunder head coach". www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk. 5 August 2016. Archived from the original on 3 March 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
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