Former Team Bath Netball quartet secure Super League contracts for 2025 season relaunch as Blue & Gold plan for new chapter
University of Bath sporting scholars Jayda Pechova and Sophie Kelly will continue their Netball Super League journeys with Nottingham Forest and London Pulse respectively, it has been confirmed today.
Alumna Tash Pavelin will join fellow Vitality Roses defender Pechova at the newly-launched Forest franchise for the 2025 campaign, while Bethan Dyke has rejoined her hometown club Cardiff Dragons.
All four were key members of the Team Bath Netball squad for the 2024 Super League season, with Dyke captaining the club.
Sports Performance student Pechova is supported by a Trendell Scholarship as she pursues her dual sporting and academic careers. The 20-year-old goal-keeper made her full England debut 12 months ago and forged an excellent defensive partnership at club level with Natural Sciences graduate Pavelin, who developed into a top-quality goal-defence during her five Super League seasons in Blue & Gold. Whilst pursuing her dual career, Pechova will continue to contribute to the netball programme at the University of Bath.
Goal-attack Kelly is going into the third year of a Management degree and is supported by a Bill Whitely Scholarship. A member of the Future Roses squad, Kelly will continue to represent the University in BUCS netball competition during the 2024-25 season and, like Pechova, will be bringing a wealth of experience to the squads and wider programme.
Vastly-experienced Wales international mid-courter Dyke is returning to Dragons, the club where she began her Super League career and was instrumental in them reaching their one Grand Final to date in 2013 where they were beaten by Team Bath.
While Team Bath may not be part of the 2025 Netball Super League, they will be continuing to develop future talent through the delivery of England Netball’s Player Pathway and the Blue and Gold are set to feature in both the National Performance League (NPL) and the newly-launched U23 feeder competition. Team Bath’s U23’s fixtures will take place at the Team Bath Arena, giving fans from the South West access to seeing the UK’s best up-and-coming talent compete on a regular basis. Details on the U23 fixtures, and the squad will be revealed in due course.
Team Bath’s Netball Manager, Emily Siddy, said: “We are delighted that four of our 2024 Netball Super League squad have secured contracts in the new-look league and wish them every success with their new teams. The players who have been announced today thoroughly deserve to push on with their careers and we will be following their exploits closely from here in the South West.
“The buzz around today’s squad reveals is just the start of the new era for our sport, and with trials for our Player Pathway getting underway this week, we are excited about our own next chapter and how we can influence what’s coming further down the line.
“We’ve been quiet over the past few months but that doesn’t mean we’ve not been busy. With brand-new squads set to be finalised in the coming weeks and more information on how fans can watch our Blue and Gold squads in action on its way, there is plenty to look forward to.”
Visit netball.teambath.com for more information about Team Bath’s Player Pathway and Development programme.
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