JERSEY teenage netball star Grace Thomson has been chosen to co-captain the Team Bath U17 NPL side for the upcoming season.
Thomson, formerly the captain of the Team Bath U15 side, is continuing a journey that began almost four years ago within the Team Bath pathway.
Her dedication, work ethic, and consistent performances have seen her grow into a key figure within the squad, and her promotion to co-captain is a recognition of her leadership on and off the court.
Team Bath coaches have praised Thomson’s maturity and ability to bring the best out of those around her, qualities that have made her an invaluable member of the programme.
Her appointment highlights the trust placed in her by coaches and peers, recognising her competitive drive and her ability to inspire those around her.
With another exciting season ahead, the Evelyn Partners Jets star is determined to continue her development and help drive the team to success. She now looks ahead to another season of progress as she takes on a central role within the squad.
“Each season starts from zero – previous selections don’t guarantee anything,” said Thomson. “Every year there’s a full trial process, with close to 200 athletes from across the UK competing for spots in each age group of the franchise.
“This season’s squad sees new and old faces and that’s because some aged out and moved to older squads; some joined different franchises; and a few unfortunately didn’t make the final cut. Because of that, I never assume I’ll be selected; I always work hard for it.”
Looking ahead to the coming season, the promising young attacker continued: “I’m excited for this season. We’ve got some returning players and some new faces that have either moved up from the u15 programme or joined Team Bath; and a new head coach. Our opening game is this weekend at home (University of Bath) and is against London based Pulse Power.
“Being asked to join the leadership group and share captaincy this season is something I feel really proud of. Captaining the U15s was a privilege, and I hope that my journey shows younger island athletes that this is all possible if you work hard for it – even though the travel, distance, and costs can make it tougher for us. If my experience helps encourage them, then that means a lot.”
