In an unassuming gym hall in Oldham stands the home of one of the most successful amateur netball club in the UK.

With over 60 youth titles to their name, Oldham have built a reputation of producing top-tier talent that have gone on to win the highest accolades in world Netball, from World Cups to Commonwealth Games. There is no finer example than three-time Commonwealth medallist, Jade Clarke.

“I wouldn’t have been able to play for England without Oldham Netball,” said England’s most capped player, Clarke. The 42-year-old, who has 208 appearances, offered her hand at coaching back where it all began at Oldham Leisure Centre.

Before their highly anticipated match against derby rivals YWCA Bury on Sunday, pupils from Brian Clarke Academy in Oldham attended to receive invaluable advice from the 2018 Commonwealth Games champion.

Oldham’s, Sarah Rexstraw, lit up the Oldham Leisure Centre as they thrashed YWCA Bury 54-46 in National Premier League Division One.

Rexstraw, who plays for the Under-19s in the Manchester Thunder Pathway, is just one example alongside Clarke of the sheer talent that Oldham Netball Club has produced.

Alongside Rexstraw, Alex Johnson took to the court in their derby day victory. Johnson, who plays for LexisNexis in the Super League, made her international debut for Wales in 2024. She continues to travel up to the club each weekend to represent Oldham and hails their youth success behind her decision.

Fellow teammates share this sentiment as Sophia Warn, a defender for the club, said:

“We’re a feeder of the elite netball and we’re really, really proud to be that. If you want to play the best netball, you want to be here.”

Historic Highs

“When you think about what Oldham Netball has done, right from Mike Greenwood starting it off and Debbie Hallis taking the reins, it’s gone from strength to strength”, said Clarke.

Greenwood founded the club in 1987 after retiring from the Army. His dedication created a Netball powerhouse in the North West of England.

In their near-40-year history, Oldham have won over 60 junior titles alongside 12 National Premier League titles. Having had the chance to represent a successful club in an area with such a rich sporting history was not lost on Clarke.

She said: “We’ve got Oldham, we’ve got Bury, we’ve got Trafford and they’ve all got such high standards in competing against each other.

“You see so many Greater Manchester players go on to play for England as an international and we’re so lucky to just have such great clubs in this region.”

Oldham also set Clarke up for her time as a professional athlete.

“They showed me how to be a professional athlete,” she recalls.

“Even if you’re not professional, you’re professional in everything you do. You turn up, you’re smart, you’ve got your uniform on and you work so hard. So, it’s just been a massive part of my life.”

Unrelenting community spirit

At the end of January, Oldham announced a three-year deal with sportswear brand VX3. It acts as a milestone for the amateur club who have won 12 league titles in the last 14 seasons and highlights the strength of community spirit.

Warn, who plays as goal defence and goalkeeper, said:

“It shows our strength as a community and I think those red and blue colours for Oldham is
something that we really pride ourselves with so I feel like it just boosts our confidence.”

The importance of youth is reiterated following the new kit announcement.

“To have all the young ones wearing the same kit as we do, I think that really shows pride as well,” she followed.

Shannon Mahlik, an attacker for the club, recognised the commerical aspect of the partnership.

She said: “The whole idea of linking up with VX3 is to just bring a new brand into Netball. The kit’s looking fresh and it’s a new whole branding for the club. So, again, just bringing in new
opportunities for us and new sponsors.”

The sponsorship also speaks truth of the power of Northern netball from youth levels to the senior stage.

“Oldham have always been a club that have pushed youngsters through programmes. Here, the average age is 20 and under.

“If you want to play the best netball, you want to be here.”