2023 Season Preview: Team Bath

The average age of the Blue and Gold’s squad is just 22 years old as Bath start to build a new dynasty with their most recent title coming in 2013. 

Asha Francis has taken over from Anna Stembridge as head coach and has not been afraid to make changes. 

Last Season 

Team Bath were the last team to seal a play-off place in 2022 losing to eventual runners-up Loughborough Lightning in the semi-finals. 

So, @lilymaycatling has told us her favourite moment from last season ✨

What’s yours? 🤔@teambathnetball l #NSL2023 pic.twitter.com/ybpIMycn0a

— Netball Super League (@NetballSL) February 6, 2023

Their season ended on a high, however, as they claimed a bronze medal, beating London Pulse 36-32 on Finals Day. 

Their defence shone as Layla Guscoth was named Player of the Season and was joined in the All-Star VII by defensive partner Phumza Maweni. 

Signing Window 

Both Guscoth and Maweni bid goodbye to Bath during the signing window, the former joining Surrey Storm. 

Experience will come in the form of Kadeen Corbin who arrived from Saracens Mavericks, while Jayda Pechova is an intriguing signing aged just 18. 

Team Bath’s most recent arrival Caroline Mtukule will become the first Malawian to wear blue and gold as she replaces Tash Pavelin who suffered an ACL injury in pre-season. 

Star Player 

Not much is known about this Team Bath side, but one thing for certain is Imogen Allison’s place in the starting seven. 

If only this had counted! 😮

Incredible skill from Imogen Allison 🔥pic.twitter.com/XA7wSb53MY

— Sky Sports (@SkySports) June 5, 2022

The mid-courter rises to every challenge, co-captaining England against Uganda having previously skippered the Bath side. 

Allison’s work rate is often unmatched for club and country, and she is the perfect example for the rest of her young squad to follow. 

One to Watch 

Jayda Pechova had a breakout season for London Pulse in 2022 and it landed her a move to Team Bath. 

That was not all – she was nominated for BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year and SportsAid One-to-Watch Award as well as being selected for the Future Roses programme for the first time. 

“I’m excited to keep pushing forward….to keep training with incredible people and learning from them!”

Netball star Jayda Pechová, 18, reflects on her international rise and new beginnings with @TeamBathNetball 🔥

▶️ https://t.co/3T2OdP29fF#CelebrateTheNext #BackingTheBest pic.twitter.com/f6fhaF4TYV

— SportsAid (@TeamSportsAid) December 23, 2022

Now, the defender must turn her promising start at Pulse into a starting berth at Team Bath. 

What They Said  

“It’s quite nice to be under the radar,” admits new captain Lily-May Catling. “We have a really fresh team with lots of players that people haven’t seen before. 

“I’m excited for the buzz that’s going to happen when those players step out on court; there are some really quite phenomenal athletes there. 

“We always want to be challenging. Team Bath has such an incredible reputation, a phenomenal history and this team is something quite special.  

“It is young and vibrant, something we haven’t had for a while. We have been really insular this pre-season, really working on ourselves and what we want to do every time we step out on court.” 

Coach’s Corner  

Asha Francis knows how to win the Netball Super League, she did it three times as a player with Team Bath, but she is aiming for something different as head coach. 

🗨️ “I’ve been involved with @TeamBath for a long time, as a player and a coach, and I’m looking forward to this new chapter.”

A key figure in our past and present, Asha Francis is excited to be shaping the #BlueAndGold‘s future as our new Head Coach.https://t.co/VAAEKbdQYL

— Team Bath Netball (@TeamBathNetball) May 25, 2022

She said: “It has been exciting to take the helm, this is the beginning of what should be a long journey. 

“There has been a lot of change. One thing we haven’t done is set our sights on being top four, we have stripped away those outcome goals and broken down what it is we want to do. 

“The biggest thing for me is that this team shows its grit, its fight, its connectivity; the way we are going to look after each other, the way we are going to back each other up.  

“We want to be better at the end than we were at the start.”