MATCH REPORT: Amsterdam Netball Club hosts Netball France in European netball showcase weekend!
- Amsterdam Netball
- Jul 9
- 3 min read
Sporthal Laan van Spartaan | 28–29 June 2025
Last weekend, Amsterdam Netball Club proudly hosted Netball France in a vibrant two-day international series. We were so excited to welcome one of the newest and most exciting additions to the global netball family at Sporthal Laan van Spartaan, our home court. With the summer sun shining over the city, the weekend was a celebration of competition, community, and the growing netball movement across mainland Europe.
Senior squad results: Grit, growth & our new “Championship Quarter”
Saturday 28 June (Match 1): Les Bleus 53 – 45 ANC
Sunday 29 June (Match 2): Les Bleus 54 – 43 ANC
The visiting French side came out strong on both days, showcasing exactly why they’ve been recently recognized by Netball Europe and are ready to take their place on the world stage. While the final scores tipped in their favor, ANC showed real grit and resilience, especially in our now-infamous “Championship Quarter” (Q4), clawing back significant deficits in both matches and proving that this squad has the heart – and hustle – to compete at a high level. Momentum, team spirit, and belief all surged in those final fifteen minutes, giving the crowd plenty to cheer for and showing what this team is made of.
A historic first for Dutch netball: U23s take the court
Another major milestone was the debut of the Netball NL U23s, who played their first ever international matches against Les Bleuets (France U23s). Proudly hosted by ANC and organized and supported by Netball Netherlands, these fixtures marked a landmark moment for youth netball in our country.
Saturday 28 June (Match 1): Les Bleuets 39 – 42 Netball NL U23s
Sunday 29 June (Match 2): Les Bleuets 43 – 43 Netball NL U23s
A win and a draw for our rising stars – a hugely promising start and an exciting glimpse into the future of Dutch netball!
We were joined by ‘Netball Royalty’
A huge shoutout to our absolutely formidable umpiring team: part of our ever-growing international netball family, Shaheen Lodhi, Sharon Penny, and Jana Moritz travelled from the UK; and familiar friendly-but-firm face Neville Donaldson represented the Netherlands. Their expertise, sharp eyes, and calm authority kept the matches flowing smoothly and fairly all weekend long — thank you for keeping us all in line!
And a special highlight of the weekend was the presence of none other than Geva Mentor, Netball France’s Performance Director and netball royalty in her own right. The England legend was courtside throughout, cheering on Les Bleus with passion. And as if that wasn’t enough, Geva led a high-energy joint training session for all players after Sunday’s match. Tired legs or not, no one was going to pass up the chance to be coached by one of the game’s all-time greats — an unforgettable experience for all involved!
Beyond the court: Connections and community on the canals
The weekend wasn’t just about the on-court action. It was a chance to share experiences and strategies for growing netball across mainland Europe. From conversations about coaching and development to laughter over drinks, the camaraderie was real.
Saturday night saw both teams take to the water for a sunset cruise through the Amsterdam canals, while Sunday wrapped up with sunny drinks at Boes & Beis, our beloved local. And keeping spirits high all weekend was our legendary MC, the mythical Snowy, whose halftime beats and court-side banter had everyone smiling.
Representing ANC with pride
We’re incredibly proud of the ANC squad who took to the court this weekend. Representing the club with determination, energy, and true team spirit:
Players: Desiree Griesel · Delle Benton · Dominique Gunnink · Ellen Lapper · Fiona Jardin · Grace Appleford · Hannah Green · Hannah Yorke · Iné Lourens · Luciano Garcia Bes · Lucy Oates · Tiana Thambipillai · Zak Martinez
Coaching team: Shane Strydom (Head Coach) · Heather Gilde (Assistant Coach)
Here’s to more international netball, more fierce fourth quarters, and more weekends like this. Merci, Netball France – and until next time!
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