Methven Netball Club

The Methven Netball Club is a large country club which draws players from a wide area and welcomes players to join. It shares its three top quality courts and pavilion with the Methven Tennis Club and is based at the Domain, in the township of Methven, Mid Canterbury, New Zealand.   Alongside this facility we are fortunate to be able to utilise the Mt Hutt College gym on a regular basis for pre-season fitness and team training. 

The Club is entered in the Mid Canterbury netball competition, under Mainland Netball and plays all competition in the EZ Networks Stadium in Ashburton on various days. 

Like the game of netball itself, the Club has gone through many changes over the years but continues to provide the best opportunities to all its players and umpires.

The Club continues to develop their policies and procedures to grow the strength of the club and its players and is proud of their place in Mid Canterbury Netball and the contribution made at local and representative levels. 

Our Methven PWL Senior A Team has been a force to be reckoned with over the years in the top Premier 1 grade coming away the victors on more than one occasion, however our strength at the top continues throughout the grades, where we have teams entered in all grades from Seniors down to the newest members to our Club in the year 3/4 competition.

The Methven Netball Club is committed to running a successful, fun and organised club, catering for a range of ages and abilities.  

As a club we couldn't run without the support of our generous sponsors, coaches, managers, umpires, volunteers and hard-working committee. If you or your daughter are interested in being part of this special club, you will find us on Facebook, or contact our club President.

We welcome new players at all levels.

History

Methven Basketball Club (now called netball) was formed in 1937. Mrs AL Grubb was the first president, a role she held until 1948. In these early years teams would travel every second week to Ashburton by bus to play. The game was very different from what we play today. They played on grass courts which were larger by an extra 2 feet on either side and had 9 players in each team.  Sidelines were dug out by hand to mark the court. They were often muddy and so the girls would lay pine needles so they didn’t slip and at half time repairs and more pine needles were often needed.

During the war years 1939-45 only friendly games were played with the odd tournament. These games were usually 9 aside but because of limited numbers often a 7 aside game was played. It was in 1946 Methven entered its first senior team into the Ashburton Association Competition. Gym frocks, ties and belts were the uniform of the day. But in 1964 the ‘short skirt’ battle started – gym frocks had to be no shorter than 8 inches off the ground when kneeling. How different our uniforms are today, some would be lucky to be 8 inches below the navel.

Methven games and practices were first played on grass at what was then Methven District High School. From there they moved to grass courts on the Methven Domain. It wasn’t until 1963 that two courts were asphalted in conjunction with the Tennis and Basketball (Netball) Clubs. The cost of these courts was 1090 pounds. In 1972 the Pavilion was built and in 1975 a 3rd asphalt court was added for $2,011. A resurfacing of the courts was done in the early 1990s costing around $17,000. Compare this with $130,000 in 2010 when the courts and surrounding fences were completely redone. But what an amazing community facility we now have.

A Methven Junior Competition was started in 1962 by Mrs Josie Maw and Mrs Madeline Smith. They both had young girls wanting to play and the cost of getting to Ashburton was prohibitive for many families. Both Josie and Madeline couldn’t believe how many girls registered to play. They had 14 teams from all the primary schools – Our Lady of the Snow, Lauriston, Lyndhurst, Springburn and Methven Primary and had a very successful competition here in Methven for many years.

In 1970 Basket ball’s name was changed to Netball with many changes to the rules, the court size and the uniforms. There were no longer referees but umpires who officiated at games. In fact two members of Methven Netball Club reached National levels with umpiring. Betty Ditford (nee Stone) rose to position of being an international referee at a world tournament in Great Britain and Dianne McTigue has held several top positions both here and overseas and is currently National Umpire Development Manager for New Zealand. Many of our players over the years have represented both Mid Canterbury and Canterbury.

Methven Netball Club was stronger than ever. In fact in the early 1970’s Methven won its 1st Premier Title. A title they were not able to win for another 30 odd years until 2008 when Methven PWL A team won the Mid Canterbury Premier Grade Competition. The Methven PWL A team has been sponsored by Philip Wareing Ltd since 1996. A sponsorship the club truly values along with the support we have always received from Philip and Wendy personally.

On 16th Spetember 2012 the club celebrated its 75th anniversary with many past and present netballers, officials, committee members and supporters gathering at the Methven Domain Courts to celebrate this momentous occasion.

And so to today… Methven is one of the largest clubs in Mid Canterbury with 9 senior teams and 7 junior teams. All these teams are very lucky to have had all the fantastic people throughout the years helping to build the tremendous club we have today. May it continue strongly for the next 25 years.

Life Members & Patrons

Life Members

• Mrs Margaret McLeod (Snr)
• Mrs Josie Maw
• Mrs Madeline Smith
• Mrs Glenys Cochrane
• Mrs Dianne McTigue
• Mrs Ruth Smith
• Mrs Amanda Millington
• Mrs Lorraine Robinson
• Mrs Leonie Donald
• Mrs Aileen Henderson
• Mrs Shirley Clemens

Patrons

Sadly our Patrons Mrs Margaret McLeod (Snr) and Mrs Josie Maw have passed away.