Netball Super League | Cooper and Pavelin to lead Forest for 2025

Niamh Cooper in pre-season training for Nottingham Forest Netball

New Netball Super League side Nottingham Forest Netball will be captained by Niamh Cooper for the 2025 season.

The Northern Ireland international has a wealth of Netball Super League experience having made her debut back in 2014 for Team Northumbria. More recently, she was a fan favourite at Severn Stars, playing 19 games in the 2024 season as the club made the top four.

She will be supported by Natasha Pavelin, who takes on the role of vice-captain. Pavelin spent six years at Team Bath and with over 50 NSL games to her name, she also has plenty of experience to support the team through their inaugural season.

On an international level, Pavelin spent two years in the Future Roses programme before stepping up to the Vitality Roses for 2024/25.

Speaking to Nottingham Forest Netball, Cooper said: “To me it’s a massive honour, I’ve never been a captain in an environment before. I’ve been vice-captain lots.

“We’ll be looking for lots of support from everyone, there’s so many leaders in this group. So, to me this is just a massive honour and I really want to do my best to represent every single person in this room.”

You can see Cooper and Pavelin in competitive action for Forest for the very first time at the Netball Super Cup on Saturday 8 March at the Utilita Arena Sheffield.