Lois Pearson extends Manchester Thunder stay

In the 2021 season, Pearson stepped up from a training partner to a member of the first team squad at Thunder. Throughout the campaign, Pearson played in 21 games, scoring 26 goals with an average goal scoring percentage of 78.79 per cent.

Currently studying mathematics at Manchester University, Pearson has been a part of the Manchester Thunder pathway since 2012 and made her way through each age group whilst playing for her local club YWCA Bury.

When asked about her debut season in the Superleague, Pearson said: “It was great getting experience last season. I think the older, more experience girls really helped me out a lot. There were quite a lot of younger girls who all made our debut together, and we’ve all come through the Thunder pathway together, so it was really nice that we all got to experience out first year at the same time.

“Being in the shooting circle was very intense as there are lot of different defenders and some of them are very big and strong. I wasn’t really used to that. When I was trying to get rebounds and things like that, I thought ‘I’ve got no chance’ because of their height compared to myself.

“I just want to build up the experience from last season and keep improving as much as I can, learning as much as possible from all the other girls on court. The training environment at Thunder is very competitive and I think we all push each other a lot.

“Playing with Joyce [Mvula] is incredible and I love watching her play. I think even when you’re feeding her the ball, and if the pass isn’t great, she somehow manages to get up there and catch it. Playing with players such as Joyce and Ellie [Cardwell] when you’re shooting with them, really help you with your confidence, and they tell me to put the shots up and just back myself.”

Manchester Thunder Head Coach Karen Greig said: “Lois is developing nicely, and is showing great capability to start performing at the top level. An unassuming athlete, her timing in attack is almost stealth like which can cause headaches for defenders.

“She is growing both on and off court and her ability to cover the attacking line will be a great asset for her and with Nat Haythornthwaite in the squad along side her. I am excited to see how much she will develop.”

Pearson becomes Manchester Thunder’s ninth signing of the 2022 Signing Window after Natalie Haythornthwaite, Shadine van der Merwe, Laura Malcolm, Eleanor Cardwell, Joyce Mvula, Caroline O’Hanlon, Kerry Almond and Elia McCormick. You can see the Thunder squad as it develops here.

For all the latest of signings during the window, make sure to follow the @NetballSL on Twitter, Instagram and visit our Transfers page.

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