NORTHERN Ireland international Niamh Cooper has joined Nottingham Forest FC’s netball squad for the club’s inauguaral season in the 2025 Netball Super League.
Wing Defence, Niamh, a doctor by profession, is a vastly experienced player who made her NSL debut back in 2014 with Team Northumbria.
Niamh, one of a raft of new signings by Forest, most recently played for Severn Stars and, before that, Surrey Storm.
Led by England Roses legend and new Head Coach Chelsea Pitman, Forest Netball will join the country’s best in competing in the Netball Super League from 2025, with all home games to be played at Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena.
Chelsea Pitman’s squad will come together for the first time in October to begin preparations ahead of the 2025 season commencing next March.
A welcome message on the parent club website said: “Nottingham Forest is incredibly proud to be embarking on a new adventure under the ownership of Evangelos Marinakis as the club looks to develop a more diverse and inclusive sporting portfolio.”
Other new arrivals include Falidah Kadonda and Jayda Pechová.
This will be Kadonda’s inaugurate season in the NSL, having been an integral part of the Ugandan international team and named Player of the Match when the She-Cranes faced Australia in the 2022 Fast5 World Series.
Pechová, an England Rose at the age of just 20 years old, made her debut for her country back in 2023 against New Zealand and was part of the winning squad in the 2023 South Africa series.
Niamh is joined in defence by Natasha Pavelin.
Pavelin, who joins from Team Bath, arrives with a list of international accolades, including playing for England in the Fast5 World Series two years ago.
In centre court, bringing speed, strength and stamina are Hannah Leighton and Iona Christian.
Both Scotland internationals, Leighton began her NSL career in 2021 with Wasps, and adds depth to this Forest squad with her versatility of also being able to play Wing Defence.
Christian, who has been playing in the top-flight since 2017 represented her country in the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, also brings versatility to the squad with her ability to play at Centre and Wing Attack.
Brie Grierson completes the trio at centre court. Bringing further NSL experience with London Pulse who finished third in the previous campaign, her positions of Wing Attack and Goal Attack give the squad a lot of options for the year ahead.
In their attacking third, Forest begin with Rhea Dixon. A back-to-back NSL champion with Loughborough Lightning with six years in the league behind her, Rhea plays both shooting positions and is effective in centre court too as a Wing Attack, and was named MVP in this year’s Netball Super League Grand Final.
Freya Henshall signed her first full NSL Contract with the Reds, having been a training partner with London Pulse and Loughborough Lightning in their winning campaign last season.
Completing Forest Netball’s squad for 2025 is Rolene Streutker. A Goal Shooter, Streutker is set for her first year playing in the UK having previously represented the Melbourne Mavericks in the Australian Super Netball League.
Streutker was also a key player in the SPAR Proteas, representing South Africa in the 2022 Test Series against England where she was named Player of the Match.
In another move, NI’s Michelle Magee has joined Birmingham Panthers from Leeds Rhinos.
