AO Manchester Thunder Expands Player Pathway with Sedbergh School Partnership and Launches New Cumbria Hub
AO Manchester Thunder is proud to announce a new partnership with Sedbergh School, establishing the School as the club’s first official regional hub outside Greater Manchester and creating exciting new opportunities for both Sedbergh pupils and aspiring netball players from across Cumbria and the wider North West.
The partnership is built on a shared ambition to expand opportunities for gifted and talented girls from across the region, helping them to develop and thrive within a first-class performance environment. By combining coaching innovation with an outstanding athlete development pathway, the partnership will inspire and support the next generation of players to reach their full potential.
As AO Manchester Thunder’s official Cumbria Hub, Sedbergh School will host two new player development programmes: the Thunder Trailblazers Programme and the Player Development Programme (PDP).
The Thunder Trailblazers Programme will support girls aged U12–U14, identifying emerging talent and accelerating development through expert coaching within a high-performance environment.
Alongside this, the Player Development Programme will provide opportunities for girls aged 16+, forming part of the recognised England Netball performance pathway and offering ambitious players a clear route towards the highest levels of the game. Hosted at Sedbergh School, both programmes will be open to athletes from across Cumbria and the wider North West, bringing together talented young players to train, compete and learn alongside one another in an environment that champions ambition and potential.
The partnership also creates significant benefits for Sedbergh School pupils, who will have access to enhanced coaching, stronger performance links and the opportunity to train alongside talented players from across the region. It further strengthens Sedbergh’s reputation as one of the UK’s leading schools for sport, where high performance coaching sits alongside academic excellence and a holistic education.
Both programmes will launch ahead of the 2026/27 season, with player trials taking place in September as part of AO Manchester Thunder’s wider pathway selection process.
This partnership represents the continued expansion of AO Manchester Thunder’s network of strategic regional partnerships, extending access to high-quality player development opportunities and strengthening the Thunder pathway across new regions.
Speaking about the partnership, Eliza Morgan, AO Manchester Thunder Pathway Head Coach, said:
“As a five-time Netball Super League championship-winning club, we recognise the role we can play in developing the next generation of talent. This partnership allows us to expand our player pathway beyond Greater Manchester for the very first time, creating new opportunities for athletes across Cumbria and the wider region to access the Thunder high-performance development environment closer to home.
Launching both Thunder Trailblazers and our Player Development Programme at Sedbergh is a hugely important step forward. We see enormous potential for this model and hope this marks the beginning of building a wider network that shares our ambition to invest in young talent and support the future of our sport.”
Jen Malings, Director of Sport at Sedbergh School, said:
“This is an exciting partnership for Sedbergh School and for young netball players across the North of England. It brings together two organisations that share an unwavering commitment to performance, coaching excellence and providing young athletes with the very best opportunities to develop. Our pupils will benefit from working alongside talented players from across the region, learning in an ambitious, high-performance environment that reflects the values we champion every day. At the same time, we’re delighted to welcome more young people to Sedbergh and strengthen the netball pathway available throughout Cumbria.”
Jason Duffy, Director of Sedbergh Courses, added:
“At Sedbergh Courses, we’ve always believed that sport has the power to bring young people together. Every year we welcome athletes from across the UK and around the world, creating an environment where they develop new skills, grow in confidence and build friendships that last long after the final whistle. This partnership with AO Manchester Thunder is a natural extension of that philosophy. By combining Thunder’s outstanding player pathway with Sedbergh’s exceptional facilities, coaching expertise we’re creating an experience that reflects our unique philosophy, encouraging personal growth on and off the court, embracing challenge and reach each individual’s full potential. Together, we’ll provide an environment where we care for the person first and ensure each player can thrive, love the game more and create memories that will last a lifetime.”
This partnership represents another significant milestone in AO Manchester Thunder’s long-term commitment to developing future talent while reinforcing Sedbergh School’s position as a centre of sporting excellence. Together, the two organisations will provide more young athletes than ever before with access to elite coaching, outstanding facilities and a clear pathway to reach their potential.
Interested in the Thunder pathway at Sedbergh?
Trials will take place on the evening of Thursday 15 October, with further information and details of how to book being released soon.
In the meantime, players and families interested in finding out more about the AO Thunder Cumbria Hub at Sedbergh and the opportunities available can contact Eliza Morgan, AO Manchester Thunder Pathway Head Coach at: pathway@thundernetball.co.uk