Scotland’s biggest female sports team is set to get even bigger under a landmark new partnership deal with University of Strathclyde. The newly named Strathclyde Sirens compete in the Sky sports televised Vitality Netball Superleague and have been #ChangingTheGame since they burst onto the scene in 2016. Attracting the League’s biggest TV viewing and live match day audiences, this new 3-year deal with one of Scotland’s top Universities is set to take the team to new levels.

Since Glasgow 2014, netball in Scotland has witnessed an unprecedented rise in the number of people participating in and supporting the sport from grassroots to elite level, and it shows no signs of slowing down. After the spike in popularity of the sport following the recent Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, and with Scotland competing in next year’s Netball World Cup in Liverpool, fans are in for even more chances to enjoy the sport, and there’s no better place to start than with the Strathclyde Sirens.

Home games at Glasgow’s Emirates Arena are fun for all the family, with a packed schedule of games and entertainment. But it’s the high octane on court action that wins the crowds as the best players in the world, and the top teams from across the UK, battle it out each week in the hopes of making it to the Finals at London’s Copperbox Arena. The Sirens’ award winning match day experience is electric, with the Scottish fans proving to be the nosiest and the most passionate in the League.

This year, the new look team brings together the country’s top talent, ably led by Captain Claire Maxwell, along with new signing Cat Tuivaiti. New Zealander Cat is one of the best loved and most prolific shooters in the global game, having won numerous Commonwealth Games and Netball World Cup gold and silver medals for her country, and brings with her the type of flair and personality that netball fans from across the world just can’t get enough of.

The new partnership with University of Strathclyde is a ground-breaking move for Netball Scotland, owners of Strathclyde Sirens, and aims to enhance and accelerate the development of Scotland’s national athletes through a high performing pathway system that includes the Superleague team. By linking with a National Governing Body and semi-pro sports team, the University will enhance its promotion and delivery of sport, health and wellbeing for all, whilst also offering exceptional student engagement and learning experiences.

Claire Nelson, Chief Executive Officer of Netball Scotland who own the Strathclyde Sirens, said: “Through this partnership we will be able to access, and utilise, industry leading academic research, technology, innovation and state-of-the-art facilities in order to enhance and accelerate the development of our sport and our athletes.”

Neil Brown, Head of Sport at the University of Strathclyde, said: “By anchoring the Sirens franchise within the University, Strathclyde will proudly be at the centre of the creation of the Performance Pathway for Netball Scotland alongside providing a truly world-class training environment for Scotland’s elite netball athletes.”

The 2019 Vitality Netball Superleague season runs from January 2019 until May, and the Strathclyde Sirens first home match takes place on Friday 11th January at 7pm at the £113m Emirates Arena, Glasgow. The new season is also bringing with it a major new two-day event. The Sky Sports televised Easter Arena Event is expected to attract crowds of over 8,000 sports fans and will bring the Superleague’s top teams together to compete under one roof over the weekend.

On game days, fans will experience top-flight netball from the biggest names and teams across the UK, an exhilarating atmosphere and family friendly activities from meeting the players to taking part in pre-match training sessions led by the athletes. Expect to see some hilarious half time challenges on court, themed nights and competitions too, its no wonder 96% of spectators said they enjoyed Sirens match days.

For match day tickets, fixtures, netball training sessions and more, head to www.sirensnetball.com.