Shorts: Netball Super League, Old Trafford, Paralympics
The Netball Super League (NSL) has announced that its 2025 Grand Final will be held at the O2 Arena for the first time in the league’s history.
The league has also confirmed its 2025 fixtures, with the new season set to begin on International Women’s Day on 8th March.
The season will open with the new Netball Super Cup tournament, which will be held at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena, providing fans a preview of the action to come before the regular rounds.
A total of 14 fixture rounds will culminate in an extended post-season format, with the introduction of a Preliminary Final, ensuring a longer contest on the road to the Grand Final, scheduled for 6 July 2025 at The O2.
Claire Nelson, NSL Managing Director said, “We’re thrilled and extremely proud to bring the 2025 NSL Grand Final to The O2 in London and to showcase this electrifying event to our growing audience.
“It’s only fitting that our showpiece event takes place at one of the most prestigious arenas in the world and this will be a significant moment for our sport as we deliver not just a world class event, but also an unforgettable experience for fans, players and everyone involved.”
The 2025 season will also debut a new brand identity for the NSL, reflecting its evolution and goals for the future.
Alongside the announcement of the fixtures, the NSL has unveiled a new centralised identity that encapsulates its growth and aspirations, developed in partnership with The Collective, in collaboration with Wasserman.
Nelson added, “Our new brand identity signals a bold new chapter for the League as we continue to innovate and elevate the sport. The rebrand represents more than just a new look; it’s a brand identity that matches the energy of our players and the passion of our fans and as the League grows, it’s important that we keep pushing boundaries both on and off court.”
All NSL matches throughout the 2025 Season will be available to view, with coverage available on Sky Sports, across BBC Sport and on NetballPass.
The Rugby Football League (RFL) has confirmed that Old Trafford will remain the host of the Super League Grand Final until at least 2027, following a new agreement with Manchester United.
This long-standing partnership, which began in 1998, will see the Theatre of Dreams continue to host the league’s showpiece game.
This year’s Grand Final will also see the introduction of the Rob Burrow Award, a new accolade for the player of the match, in honour of the late Leeds Rhinos legend who recently passed away after his battle with Motor Neurone Disease.
The award will replace the Harry Sunderland Trophy, which Burrow won twice in 2007 and 2011.
Old Trafford has been the venue for every Grand Final, except for the 2020 edition of the event, which was moved due to Covid-19 restrictions.
The stadium also has a rich history of hosting rugby league’s major events, including the Rugby League Premiership final between 1987 and 1997.
Rhodri Jones, Managing Director of Rugby League Commercial, said, “It’s perfect timing for us to be able to confirm this extension as we look forward to another fantastic occasion at Old Trafford this weekend, with our biggest Grand Final crowd for at least seven years.”
ParalympicsGB and Loughborough University have formed a strategic partnership to drive innovation in Para Sport.
This collaboration will focus on utilising the university’s research, facilities, and knowledge to enhance the development and success of the UK’s Paralympic athletes.
In turn, ParalympicsGB has sought to leverage the influence of its athletes and members to improve access to sport for disabled individuals and transform attitudes towards disability.
The collaboration has centred around seven key areas, namely community engagement and outreach, disability inclusion, advanced research and innovation, state-of-the-art training facilities, educational and career development, innovation in Para-sports and lastly sustainability.
David Clarke OBE, Chief Executive of ParalympicsGB said, “We are thrilled to partner with Loughborough University, a globally recognised leader in Paralympic sports research and education.
This collaboration will provide our athletes with the best possible resources to excel on the world stage while advocating for a transformation in attitudes towards disability and equitable access to sporting opportunity for every disabled person.”
Liverpool and Standard Chartered have reached an agreement that will see the Futuremakers design replace the company’s logo on the club’s shirts for a the fifth consecutive season.
The women’s side will wear the specially designed shirts on Sunday 13th October against Manchester City, while the men’s team is set to wear them on 20th October during their Premier League match against Chelsea.
After each game, the shirts will be signed by the players and made available for auction on the Charity Stars fundraising platform.
This initiative aims to raise awareness and funds for the Futuremakers programme, which has empowered underserved young individuals globally by teaching them essential skills for employment and entrepreneurship.
The auction, which has been titled ‘Some swaps mean more’, highlights the tradition of shirt swapping and features exclusive videos of players discussing the importance of wearing the Futuremakers shirts.
The auction for the women’s shirts will begin on 13th October, with the men’s shirts becoming available on 20th October, before both auctions conclude on 11th November.
Reading enter talks with new buyer amid transfer embargo
Reading have entered a new period of exclusivity with a prospective buyer, the League One club have confirmed.
This coincides with the imposition of a fresh transfer embargo by the English Football League (EFL).
Reading have faced significant challenges under Chinese entrepreneurs Dai Yongge’s and Dai Xiu Li’s ownership, including fines, points deductions, and fan protests.
The latest embargo has been imposed due to the late filing of financial accounts for the 2022/23 season.
The club have however assured supporters that the embargo will be lifted as soon as the overdue accounts are finalised.
Reading’s statement also disclosed that the proposed sale includes Dai’s shareholding, as well as the Select Car Leasing Stadium and Bearwood Park Training Ground.
Both parties are working to finalise terms and complete the transaction promptly, with provisions in place to fund the club until the sale is concluded.
This announcement follows the collapse of a previous deal with former Wycombe Wanderers owner, Rob Couhig, last month.
In a statement, Reading said, “This exclusivity period also includes further provision to fund the club until the transaction’s intended completion.”
League Two outfit Grimsby Town Football Club have secured a multi-year partnership with Winner Winner Chicken Dinner Competitions.
The Grimsby-based business has operated daily online competitions for a community of more than 100,000 members, offering prizes that range from toys and technology to high-value items such as houses and cars.
Within this deal, the company’s branding will appear prominently at Blundell Park, particularly around the dugouts, ball plinth, and the new tunnel.
Winner Winner Chicken Dinner Competitions will remain a club sponsor until at least the conclusion of the 2026/2027 season.
Polly Bancroft, Grimsby Chief Executive said, “Supporters will have already noticed their branding around the ground. I’d like to thank Gemma and Sonny for their brilliant support of the club and we look forward to working closely with the local business who are quickly gaining a national reputation.”
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