Team Bath netballing legend Pamela Cookey returned to Bath this Easter Monday for a very special ceremony.
The former England captain who won five Superleague titles with Team Bath between 2006 and 2013 was inducted into the University’s Hall of Fame for Sport this evening.
The ceremony took place in front of over a thousand netball fans during Team Bath’s televised evening Superleague game against Celtic Dragons.
Cookey, a graduate of the University, was presented with the Award by the University Director of Sport, Stephen Baddeley, and will be the first netballer to join names such as Olympic and Paralympic medallists Jason Gardener, Amy Williams and Ben Rushgrove in the Hall of Fame.
“Pamela has all the attributes to enter our Hall of Fame. She played with passion and skill both for Team Bath and England and was a stand-out player globally”, said Baddeley. “During her playing career despite her netball commitments and holding down a full-time job, she always had time to contribute to our environment beyond the court”.
The prolific shooter was first spotted as a future star at an early age and transferred to Millfield School so that she could access the Team Bath netball programme,
Team Bath’s current Director of Netball Jess Thirlby said: “Pam has been a huge part of my own netball journey firstly as a team-mate, friend and latterly in a coaching role. There are only a few people whom I feel deserve the superlative of ‘legend’ and Pamela certainly is one of them both for Team Bath and her country”.
A precocious talent, she would have made her Commonwealth Games debut as early as 2002, aged 17, but for a knee injury.
Cookey went on to have an illustrious career with England, having previously represented her country at U17 and U19 level, and won 114 senior caps – several of them as captain – before retiring from international duty in September. She plays currently for Surrey Storm in the Superleague.
She won bronze medals at the 2011 and 2015 Netball World Cups, as well as the 2006 and 2010 Commonwealth Games, and helped England record a historic 3-0 Test series win against Australia in 2012.
Cookey has also played in the world’s top league – the ANZ – for Northern Mystics of New Zealand and last year won the Superleague with Surrey Storm.
“Pamela was a star in the ANZ league, too”, said former Team Bath Director of Netball and New Zealand netball captain and coach, Lyn Gunson. “She also pulled off two amazing comebacks in her career from serious injury and that shows not only the calibre of the player but also of the person”.
While playing in the Blue and Gold of Team Bath, Cookey was always keen to support the University and the netball franchise with multiple appearances and school visits.
Meanwhile the current squad, is locked into a hugely competitive fight to secure a top-four finish and book a play-off place.
Carter Jonas are Team Bath Netball’s property partner, Surridge are the Team Bath kit supplier and Skins provide the team with compression wear.
Photo above shows Pamela playing for England on the occasion of her 100th cap
Report courtesy of the Team Bath press office at Matchtight Ltd.
