TCD Netball Club can take their netball game to the next level after being awarded an ANZ Netball Grant.

ANZ Netball Grants give netballers across the country an opportunity to apply for anything they need to continue playing the game they love – from uniforms and training gear to resurfaced courts and money-can't-buy experiences.

After another difficult year for community netball, where Covid-19 cancelled games and shortened seasons, ANZ is helping to ease the fundraising effort for clubs and teams across the country.

Club founder and player Chloe Murray started TCD Netball Club in 2020 to create a high performance environment with a great culture.

Her friend, netball legend Marlene Flavell, had originally moved to Mount Maunganui to retire, but quickly put her hand up to coach at the fledgling club, and this season they are two teams strong.

Marlene has devoted 65 years of her life to netball and is best known for being a Silver Ferns selector between 1991 and 2001.

She's highly decorated as a Netball NZ Service Award, an Auckland Netball Life member and in 2016 she was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to netball.

Marlene, now 80, is looking to reduce her involvement in the club. Chloe applied for an ANZ Netball Grant because they needed some help to fill the gap Marlene would leave behind and the club needed some help providing gear to their second team.

'Marlene isn't your average coach,” Chloe says.

'She looks at us as people, not just players. Her knowledge and experience is so valuable, we're really lucky.”

TCD Netball Club was awarded new training gear, two bespoke coaching courses to help them level up their skills and a Marlene Flavell trophy for the club person of the year to honour her commitment to the club.

Chloe says receiving an ANZ Netball Grant is huge for the club.

'Having two teams this year means the cost goes up. We must accommodate everyone and make sure they have the best balls and gear. This gear will allow us to keep our high performance environment.

'I've always known ANZ to be really big supporters of netball. I really wanted to have that extra support for the club, especially with two teams. It's more complicated finding support or sponsorship for two teams. To be able to provide this awesome gear on and off the courts is amazing.”

Chloe says the grant will help to cement the future of TCD as the club to join.

'My goal for this club is to have as many teams as we can out there representing us on the court. I want people to know they are coming to a club where they can be excited to train and meet new people. We don't just come to train, but to build connections on and off the court.”

ANZ General Manager Marketing, Matt Pickering says: 'We're proud to support netball from the grassroots clubs and schools in Tauranga to the elite players in the ANZ Premiership and the Silver Ferns. Community netball has had it tough over the last two years so we hope ANZ's support makes it easier for players to continue playing the game they love. We know it's the clubs and schools across the country that help to nurture the next generation of players and we hope these grants give teams a boost and fill them with the confidence to play their best game.”