Three Storm Academy Players Join Roses Programme

Three of Surrey Storm’s brightest young stars have been selected to be part of the England Roses Academy and Under 21 squads for 2019-20.

15-year-old GS/GA Emma Thacker continues her rise through the age-groups with a place in the 20-player long squad preparing for the 2021 World Youth Cup, whilst Ellie Harding and Shelby Harris are part of the Academy programme which will represent England at the Under 17 Netball Europe tournament in 2020 and Under 19 summer tour next June.

Thacker was also a member of the England Under 19 squad which toured Australia and New Zealand in June and July. “I loved the experience,” she admitted of the antipodean tour. “Putting on the Roses dress for the first time made me so proud. It felt like all my hard work had paid off, and everything my mum and dad have done for me is coming together.”

Before the 2021 World Youth Cup in Fiji, Thacker will be part of the teams competing at the Under 21 Netball Europe competition in October and several other tours during 2020.

Already a netballer for nine years, and a member of the England squad which triumphed at the Under 17 Netball Europe tournament on home turf in March, Thacker says “it’s been immense how far I’ve come in three years,” but her ambitions continue to rise along with her status: “Now I want to represent my country and Storm at the highest level”.

Surrey Storm send their congratulations to Emma, Ellie and Shelby, and wish them well in their time with the Roses.