East Midland Netball's Centenary Festival 2026!

A celebration of England Netball’s 100th birthday, bringing together the East Midlands netball community to honour volunteers through the culmination of the Centenary ONE Awards and a festival showcasing the sport’s heritage and ambitious future.

Bringing the East Midlands Netball Community Together

A Celebration of 100 Years of Netball

This summer, the East Midlands netball community came together for a special celebration on Saturday 4 July at Derbyshire County Cricket Club to mark England Netball’s Centenary Year.

The day was dedicated to recognising the people, stories and achievements that have shaped netball across the East Midlands, while also looking ahead to an exciting future for the game. It was an opportunity for the entire East Midlands netball community to connect, reflect on the sport’s journey throughout the region and celebrate England Netball’s 100th birthday. .

With more than 400 people attending throughout the day, the festival showcased everything that makes our sport so special: community spirit, inclusivity, celebration and connection.

A particular highlight of the event was the collection of displays created by several counties and the East Midlands region, showcasing the past, present and future of netball. These displays captured treasured memories, celebrated current achievements and shared aspirations for the years ahead, demonstrating the impact netball has had on communities across the East Midlands for generations.

We were delighted to welcome England Netball Archivist Alastair, who shared insights into how England Netball is celebrating its centenary year and highlighted the many ways members of the netball family can get involved in commemorating this remarkable milestone

The festival truly demonstrated that netball is a game for everyone, from 5 to 105. Walking Netballers Joy Williams from Nottinghamshire and Mary Yardley from Derbyshire proudly showcased everything that Walking Netball has to offer, while later in the afternoon, Lincolnshire Netball Development Officer Louise Key delivered an engaging Bee Netball session, giving attendees an opportunity to experience the programme that introduces young children to our sport in a fun and accessible way.

There was plenty to enjoy away from the courts too. Attendees were entertained by live music, enjoyed the bouncy castles and BBQ, explored the various displays and stands, and connected with friends old and new throughout the day. The festival atmosphere reflected the warmth and inclusivity that sits at the heart of the East Midlands netball community.

We were also honoured to welcome a number of special guests, including Nottingham Forest Netball Super League and NXT Gen players Jayda Pechova and Regan Peters, Loughborough Lightning Head Coach Vic Burgess, and England Netball Chair Baroness Sue Campbell. Their support helped make the event even more memorable and highlighted the exciting opportunities and pathways available within our sport.

Centenary One Awards 2026

On July 4 we also took the opportunity to celebrate our amazing East Midlands ONE Awards nominees. This involves placing the spotlighting on the people and clubs from East Midlands' five counties who make netball happen and drive participation and inclusion.

For 2026, there were four main categories* and a simplified nominations process based on your feedback:

Special Recognition Award – recognises long-term impact, legacy and meaningful influence on the sport
Rising Star Award – recognises emerging leaders making consistent, selfless contributions
Outstanding Contribution Award – recognises individuals who go significantly above expectations
Thriving Collective Award – recognises collaborative projects with strong shared impact

*and four East Midlands specific awards identified below

Following our celebrations, winners from the four main categories across the nine regional events happening up and down the country will be reviewed by a national panel and invited to a national event that will take place in autumn 2026. Congratulations to all our nominees and a huge good luck to all our main award winners who will represent East Midlands at the national awards this autumn!

Our ONE Award Winners!

Special Recognition

Celebrating individuals who have made a lasting impact on netball through their dedication, legacy and meaningful influence on the sport.

Congratulations to our three winners, Donna Beckett, Victoria Lane and Mary Yardley.

Outstanding Contribution - Delivering Great Sessions

For coaches, Bee Netball Leaders, Walking Netball Hosts, and teachers delivering extracurricular netball, this award recognises individuals who have demonstrated exceptional, sustained, and impactful contributions. Through their leadership, dedication, and commitment to going above and beyond, they have made a significant difference to their communities, driven innovation, fostered inclusion, and inspired others to get involved in netball.

Congratulations to our three winners, Connie Xavier, Kerry Gardner and Sarah Cottrell!

Outstanding Contribution - Making It All Happen

For officials, tutors, assessors, selectors, NETBALLHer Champions, event volunteers, and those serving in dedicated inclusion, safeguarding, administrative, and other specialist roles, this award recognises individuals who have demonstrated exceptional, sustained, and impactful service. Through their leadership, dedication, and commitment to going above and beyond, they have made a significant difference to their communities, driven positive change, and inspired others along the way.

Congratulations to our three winners, Jayne Bell, Kaylla Driscoll and Kate Garner who will represent the East Midlands at the national awards this October.

Rising Star

Recognising emerging leaders aged between 12 and 25 who have shown consistent, selfless contribution to their community, demonstrating leadership, initiative, and positive impact.

Congratulations to our winner, Rebecca Bowen, who will represent the East Midlands at the national awards this October.

Thriving Collective

For an organisation, group of people or specific community project who have worked on a project, event or plan that has had a significant impact on the local community and demonstrated clear, quantifiable success from collaborative work, showing joint planning, shared resources, open communication, and significant impact.

Congratulations to our winner, The Best Netball Podcast Ever, who will represent the East Midlands at the national awards this October.

East Midlands Additional Awards and Criteria:

East Midlands Jean Bourne Back to Netball Award
The Jean Bourne Back to Netball Award is presented to a Back to Netball participant from the East Midlands whose personal life style has changed significantly since coming back to netball.

The Award honours Jean who died in 2014 and was a valuable volunteer within the Region. Jean was Chair of Nottinghamshire, Chair of East Midlands and from 1994 to 2000, President of England Netball. Jean was also a Panel (A Award) umpire and Nottinghamshire coach and was passionate about netball and grassroots netball supporting and attending Regional events long after her retirement.

To be eligible, nominees must have taken part in an East Midlands Back to Netball session and have completed an England Netball Back to Netball Participant Registration Form. Nominations should be able to demonstrate how Back to Netball has impacted in a particularly positive way on the Back to Netballer’s personal lifestyle and has done or achieved something special for their group. (This could be organising social events, completing an officiating course or looking after kit etc.)

All nominations should be seconded by a Back to Netball Coach or by an England Netball Development Officer/Community Coach.
East Midlands Jean Perkins Walking Netball Award
The Jean Perkins Walking Netball Award is presented to a Walking Netball participant from the East Midlands whose personal lifestyle has changed significantly since coming to the Walking Netball sessions.

Jean Perkins OBE, who died in 2017 was a dedicated volunteer who had many roles within the Region. A Panel (A Award) umpire and tutor, a coach tutor and assessor and Chair of East Midlands Netball, Jean worked hard for inclusion within our sport and formed the first netball club in the region for ladies with a learning disability.

To be eligible, nominees must have taken part in an East Midlands Walking Netball session and have completed an England Netball Participant Registration Form. Nominations should be able to demonstrate how Walking Netball has impacted in a particularly positive way on the walking Netballer’s personal lifestyle as well as showing their passion, support and dedication to their group. (This could be organising social events, becoming a WN Host, organising special tops/T-shirts etc.) All nominations should be seconded by a Walking Netball Host or by an England Netball Development Officer/Community Coach.
East Midlands Jean Staley Award
This award was initiated in memory of Jean Staley, who was tragically killed in November 1987, aged 38. Jean’s main attributes were her efficiency in administration, commitment to playing and umpiring within her Club, County and Region as well as an overall dedication to netball in whatever role.

With this in mind, nominees should fulfill the following criteria:

The Nominee should have been involved at Club, County and Region in one or more of the following roles: Administration, Umpire or Coach. It should be stressed that the emphasis is on work done at ALL levels (although not necessarily the same discipline).
East Midlands Long Service Award

The East Midlands Long Service Award is approved by the East Midlands Regional Management Board for any registered participant or member of an affiliated school who has given service to the region (not club or county) for at least 10 years (this need not be consecutive) within any capacity i.e., Player, Umpire, Coach, Administrator, Volunteer, Table Official etc.