When Liv Tchine first walked into St George’s Park, her reaction said it all. “Wow.”
That was her first thought. Her second? “Can I stay here forever?”
The 24-year-old England goal shooter, fresh from helping London Pulse claim their first Netball Super League title, wasn’t just impressed by the world-class training grounds of the Lionesses — she was inspired.
Hidden in the quiet countryside of Staffordshire, St George’s Park is football’s fortress of dreams. With cutting-edge facilities, pristine pitches, and walls lined with portraits of England’s finest, it’s everything an athlete could wish for.
For Tchine, those 10 days training there with the Roses were nothing short of transformational.
“I was like, if we could just stay here forever, I would happily move,” she told BBC Sport. “The facilities were, honestly, so amazing.”
A Glimpse of What Could Be
England’s netballers — the Roses — are now chasing a new kind of dream: Commonwealth gold in Glasgow 2026 and World Cup glory in 2027.
As the Netball Super League takes its first professional steps, players like Tchine are at the forefront of a quiet revolution. Crowds are growing — up 42% in 2025 — and the energy around the sport feels electric.
“It feels like we’re in the best position we’ve ever been in,” says Tchine. “You can sense something changing.”
Learning from the Lionesses
There’s no envy, only admiration, when Tchine speaks of England’s football and rugby heroines — the Lionesses and Red Roses.
“I definitely hope that if I’m still playing in 10 years, we’ll be at the same level as them,” she says. “It’s amazing to see women’s sport hitting heights it never has before.”
From their televised triumphs to their sold-out stadiums, these teams have set a new standard — one that netball is eager to match.
For Tchine and her teammates, the goal isn’t just medals. It’s a legacy. A home for netball that inspires future generations the same way St George’s Park inspired her.
Building the Future, One Pass at a Time
The journey won’t be easy. Funding is still tight, opportunities are uneven, and visibility remains a challenge. Yet, as Tchine reflects on her time in “the Lionesses’ den,” hope burns brighter than ever.
“One day,” she says with conviction, “netball could definitely have something like this.”
And with players like her — talented, determined, and full of belief — it’s hard not to believe it too.
Discussion about this post