Northwich Sapphires celebrate 10th anniversary with club's membership at record high

After all, the list of achievements she can recite is long, and her club is proud of realising each one.

Northwich Sapphires celebrate their 10th birthday in 2015, when they can boast of being as vibrant as ever.

Indeed, such is their success that they can’t – for now at least – accommodate any new junior players.

To the two groups of women that came together for extra practice little more than a decade ago, then agreed to start a new team, a membership approaching 200 will likely have felt far away.

“We’ve not done badly have we?” says Watson.

“I think to the girls that have been here from the start, it’s really flown by.

“Some on the committee now started with Sapphires as juniors, and were among the first to benefit when we decided we wanted to grow.

“Now when we sit down to look at everything we’ve done, we’ve realised it’s quite a lot!”

More than 100 girls, in teams from under 10s through to under 16s, represent the club in local, county and regional leagues.

Sapphires’ seniors sides, made up of another 40 or so members, do the same.

In January of this year, a note on the club’s website said they had no room for newcomers.

More wanted to play in Sapphires’ black and gold than they could cope with, adding their names to lengthening waiting lists.

But Watson, and the rest of the committee she now leads – nearly all of whom still play as well as coach, umpire or run a junior team – have risen to the challenge.

To them, there should be no barrier preventing girls from playing a sport they love.

Lauren Watson, right, with young players at Northwich Sapphires' summer camp

“In the past year or so, word of mouth has led to a massive influx of new players,” she adds.

“We haven’t promoted ourselves, and yet most age groups have two teams. Some have more.

“I hate the thought of turning people away.

“We’re the only club locally that gives kids a chance to play netball.

“It’s what we wanted to do.

“When I was at school, I started playing as a senior when I was 14 because there was nowhere else to go. That’s not ideal.

“I’ve coached for a while now, and at the start parents often asked where girls could play outside of school.

“We had to do something.”

And they continue to.

Sapphires have devised a programme for new coaches, be they parents or existing players wanting to try something different, to cope with the demand.

The response means they will likely be able to reduce those lists.

Watson believes her passion for netball is shared by those who help run the club.

Their enthusiasm means they are continually seeking ways to improve.

She says: “It’s unusual, but massively important, that everybody [on the committee] still plays netball.

“The kids love that; they like that we’re young, and able to inspire them. When they come to watch us play, they’re wowed by it.

“It creates an atmosphere the girls want to be part of.

“When they go to Uni, or move with work, lots end up coming back.”

She would love for them to return to a club that has its own home – Sapphires’ ultimate ambition.

Home matches and training sessions are scheduled at different venues in Northwich and, before it closed, at Woodford Lodge in Winsford.

In fact, the number of places to play netball is smaller at a moment when the club is larger than previously.

“Our dream would be to have one hub, one place, where the junior and senior teams can train together on the same night,” she adds.

It would be one of the biggest achievements of all to add to that list.

Lauren Watson says Northwich Sapphires can be proud of what they have achieved