Birmingham Panthers (netball)
| Full name | Birmingham Panthers | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Association | England Netball | ||
| Founded | 2024 | ||
| Based in | Birmingham | ||
| Region | West Midlands | ||
| Home venues | Arena Birmingham bp pulse LIVE Coventry Skydome University of Worcester Arena | ||
| Head coach | Sonia Mkoloma | ||
| Asst coach | Rachel Dunn | ||
| Captain | Gabby Marshall | ||
| League | Netball Superleague | ||
| Website | www | ||
| |||
Birmingham Panthers is an English netball team based in Birmingham which plays in the Netball Superleague. The franchise was added in 2025 as one of two new entries in the relaunched “NSL 2.0”, which aims to professionalise the league.[1]
The Birmingham Panthers' original debut netball kit was designed by Fashion Design students Rohan Scott and Zoe Bennett at Birmingham City University. The design was inspired by a combination of local architecture translated into stylistic shapes curves and hidden elements such as an iridescent pattern that resembled the rosettes often unseen on a panther's shiny black coat. Scott and Bennett collaborated to combine their concepts to create the striking electric blue debut kit for the Birmingham Panthers.
History
The franchise was announced in 2024, alongside Nottingham Forest netball, as a new team for the relaunched Netball Superleague.[1] Severn Stars, based in Worcester, which had been a member of the league since 2017 was disbanded the same year with Jo Trip the former Stars coach announced as Panthers head coach.[1][2]
In 2025 Knighthead Capital Management, a US asset management firm, which owns Birmingham City F.C. announced its investment in the team.[3]
Home venues
Panthers home venues for 2025 are the BP Pulse Live Arena; Utilita Arena Birmingham; Coventry Skydome and University of Worcester Arena.[4]
Notable players
| 2026 Birmingham Panthers roster | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | Coaching staff | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Player profiles: Team website | Last updated: 2 January 2026 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Head coaches
| Coach | Years |
|---|---|
| Jo Trip[2] | 2024–2025 |
| Sonia Mkoloma[5] | 2025–present |
| Director of Netball | Years |
|---|---|
| Connie Francis[6][7][8] | 2024–Present |
References
- ^ a b c Murphy, Izzy (30 May 2024). "Clubs confirmed for relaunched League as the Netball Super League embarks on a new era of transformational change". England Netball. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ^ a b "Birmingham Panthers Sign Jo Trip as Head Coach". www.birminghampanthers.com. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
- ^ "Netball Super League: Birmingham Panthers secure big investment from US group which owns Birmingham City". Sky Sports. 24 March 2025. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ^ "Birmingham Panthers". Netball Super League. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ^ https://www.birminghampanthers.com/news-article/new-head-coach/
- ^ "Connie Francis appointed as Birmingham Panthers Director of Netball". www.birminghampanthers.com. 13 November 2024. Archived from the original on 13 December 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
- ^ "Birmingham Panthers tap Connie Francis as director of netball for inaugural NSL season". www.caribbeannationalweekly.com. 14 November 2024. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
- ^ "Connie Francis makes history: First Jamaican netball coach in England's Super League". www.jamaicaobserver.com. 14 November 2024. Archived from the original on 5 December 2024. Retrieved 1 January 2026.