2020-2021
Gemini was founded in January 2020 in partnership with our Founding Sponsor Gloworm Solutions Ltd and local charity, The Jamie G Sporting Trust. We were so excited to make our dream a reality but unfortunately the pandemic was around the corner! We made the most of the time we were allowed on court and hosted successful U8-U11 Bee Netball launch parties and regular training sessions.
When the restrictions were in place, we set up home challenges and Zoom training sessions until we could get back on court in the summer term. Our loyal membership had then grown to 75 members and 6 coaches of which 4 were new and eager to learn.
2021-2022
Our second season highlights were Bee Netball continuing to flourish, launching a Year 7 and 8 netball group, entering our first tournaments, launching our full day summer camps, supporting 1 new Level 2 Lead coach and 3 new Level 1 coaches, delivering guest sessions in schools and joining partnership with the Andover School Sports Association to support the Primary School Tournaments.
In addition, we launched our Young Volunteer programme, had a Gemini table at our first Jamie G Ball and hosted our first end of season presentations.
We were very grateful for further support from Gloworm Solutions Ltd and the Jamie G Sporting Trust and a donation from Waitrose, all of which helped develop our club structure and provide further opportunities for our members.
2022-2023
Our Bee Netball and U12-U13 sessions continued to be popular in our third season and we entered more teams in different tournaments. Our members helped us design our netball dresses ahead of entering U12 and U13 teams in the Salisbury Junior Leagues providing our first fixtures against teams from Dorset, Salisbury, Bournemouth and Ringwood.
In addition, we supported 2 new Into Officiating umpires and 1 new Level 2 Lead coach and we developed our end of season presentations into an entertaining whole club celebration.
We were also very grateful to Wolseley UK for providing kit sponsorship for our match teams.
2023-2024 Season
Leading into our 4th season, we expanded up to an U14 age group and entered an additional 3 teams in the Salisbury Junior League – 2 x U11 Bee Netball teams and U12, U13 and U14. We had league success with our U14s winning their league!
We upped our tournaments and entered lots of squads in Salisbury, Southampton, Winchester, Bournemouth and Basingstoke. Our tournament highlight was U13 and U14 squads both finishing as Runners Up in Salisbury.
Following performance trials, we had 4 players selected into Surrey Storm’s Hampshire Aspire and we had umpire success with supporting 1 umpire to C level and 2 umpires to Into Officiating level with many more umpires mentored along their journeys too.
We were proudly nominated for a Pride of Andover award, whilst not a finalist it was a lovely recognition. In addition, we were appreciative to a third donation from the Jamie G Sports Trust and a donation from the Co-op.
Exciting developments in the summer term led to two training level offers for our older girls of a Development and Competitive group and entering our first team in the Andover Summer League.
2024-2025
This is our most exciting season yet as our club continues to grow and we currently offer U8-U15 groups. We have developed our player pathway to provide a Development and Competitive route for all of our secondary school age groups. In line with this, we have expanded our match opportunities by entering 5 teams in the Salisbury Junior League (U11-U15) and 3 teams in the Hampshire Junior League (U12, U13 and U14), which is a more competitive league competing against teams across Hampshire.
Furthermore, we have grown to proudly have 6 committee members, 8 team managers, 8 young volunteers, 9 coaches of which 3 are Level 2 and many are working towards their level 1 and 3 C Grade umpires and 1 x Into Umpire with others working towards their Into award.
Following performance trials, we have had 3 players progress to performance academies and 6 players obtain places in the Wiltshire PDP.