Kenilworth Town Football and Netball Club brought a century of netball history to life last Friday night - quite literally - by hosting a special "100 Years of England Netball" celebration that blended vintage stars with the club's rising young talent.

And if there was ever a night where the past and present were perfectly… well… in net, this was it.

To mark the milestone, KT opened its doors to some very special guests:

• Betty Galsworthy – ex‑England national team player, coach, and bona fide Netball Hall of Famer. A living legend with more stories than most teams have bibs.
• Kenilworth Ladies – the town's last competitive women's netball team, represented by the wonderful trio of Stella, Alison and Jackie.
• The Mayor and Mayoress of Kenilworth, James and Kit – who proved they were more than happy to get "courtside" for the celebration.

The evening kicked off with warmups that were fun enough to make even the most reluctant runners pivot with excitement, followed by a series of super matches showcasing the impressive skills of the KTN players.

And because no great sporting event is complete without high‑quality fuel, there were cakes.

Mayor of Kenilworth Cllr James Kennedy attended the event (image supplied)

Lots of cakes (because if you're celebrating 100 years, you're basically obliged to eat at least 100 calories!)

Between the matches, the laughs, and the generous servings of nostalgia, there was plenty of time for conversation as young players absorbed stories of netball days gone by - while the former players looked on in awe at the speed, teamwork, and passion of the next generation.

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Mela Leek, Netball Club Secretary, summed up the night: "It was lovely to see the KTN girls being truly inspired by our guests… and our guests being in awe of our amazing young, talented KTN players and dedicated volunteer coaches.

"I would like to thank each of our guests - and our amazing players, parents and coaches.

"It is fantastic to see all the hard work resulting in fun and joy together across the age groups! Here's to another 100 years of England Netball and Kenilworth Town Football and Netball Club."

As the final whistle blew, one thing was clear: the legacy of netball in Kenilworth is in incredibly safe hands.

If the next century is anything like the last, Kenilworth Town Football & Netball Club will be more than ready to take the centre pass into the future.

'It is fantastic to see all the hard work resulting in fun and joy together across the age groups' (image supplied)