News | Tuesday, 21st February 2023
Manchester Thunder and Manchester Metropolitan expand partnership
Team based at new netball academy at University’s elite sports facilities
Manchester Thunder and Manchester Metropolitan University will continue their strategic partnership with a new Manchester Thunder Netball Academy and Performance Centre.
Based at the University’s Platt Lane sports facility, the current and four-time Vitality Netball Super League champions, will also wear Manchester Met’s logo on their netball squad dresses throughout the 2023 season, as a result of the strategic partnership announced in April 2021.
The University is becoming increasingly synonymous with Manchester Thunder and this will be reinforced by an increasing presence on and around court and both within and around the Platt Lane facility, which in the coming weeks will be home to a new Manchester Thunder office and co-branded as the Manchester Thunder Netball Academy and Performance Centre.
Manchester Thunder will continue to work with the University on a range of areas, including: using its high-performance training facilities, retaining new talent within the North West and benefiting from research opportunities to support elite performance at the new Manchester Metropolitan University Institute of Sport.
Tim Cable, Director of the Manchester Metropolitan Institute of Sport, said: “Our partnership with Manchester Thunder demonstrates our commitment to supporting elite sport in the region. We’re able to use our research and expertise in elite performance to provide Manchester Thunder’s coaches with unrivalled sport science support, helping them to achieve their sporting goals on and off the court. We’re delighted to welcome them to Platt Lane with the new academy and performance centre.”
Gary Young, Strategy Development Director of Manchester Thunder added: “Our relationship with Manchester Met is growing in both strength and depth every month and us establishing a new office within the university estate is both the latest example of the partnership’s importance in enabling our vision to ‘be the best elite netball club in the UK, on and off court’ and a signpost to far more exciting developments due to be announced in the coming weeks.”
Manchester Metropolitan University Institute of Sport is a new sporting and health hub in the heart of the city. It provides support and research for elite sporting organisations and the University’s student athletes. The centre will also work with health organisations and communities to support wider healthy living and ageing.
Manchester Thunder is the Vitality Netball Super League franchise for North West England, supporting and developing elite netball across the region. The reigning and four time Netball Super League champions, Manchester Thunder is an ambitious and passionate club and always open to anyone who shares its vision.
