Nottingham Forest Netball have secured their place in the Netball Super League semi-finals in just their second ever season.
Forest will play Loughborough Lightning in the minor semi-final on Saturday June 6 – who they beat in round 12 to secure their place in the play-offs – while Manchester Thunder and reigning champions London Pulse will go head-to-head in the major semi-final.
The winner of the major semi-final secures an automatic place in the Grand Final at Co-op Live in Manchester on June 20. The loser will then take on the winner of the minor semi-final to determine who claims the second spot in the final.
“I think back to when we got together in October – planning for this season – and saying that it would be amazing to reach top four in just our second season,” said Forest head coach and former World Cup winner Chelsea Pitman, who has been at the helm since their inception in 2024.
“To achieve that with two games to go is such a remarkable feat.
“They know how to win, but we are still building – being able to control the game was great to see.”
The deadly duo of Pechova and Pavelin
Two players who have been at the heart of everything good about Forest this season are Jayda Pechova and Natasha Pavelin.
They have been expertly nicknamed ‘Pavlova’ by the Forest fans – and the mere mention of the dynamic duo instantly brought a smile to Pitman’s face.
“The pairing between Tash and Jayda has grown and grown, they live together so everything is coming along nicely at the right time.
“They absolutely batter our attackers in training, they train how they play and it’s a testament to what we are building here.
“I love their nickname and with Commonwealth Games selection looming it’s a big plus for England Netball and those two are putting their hands up for selection.”
Formed in 2024 as part of the Nottingham Forest franchise, the club has benefited enormously from the professional infrastructure and elite training environment that come with links to a Premier League side – so much so that Pitman now describes herself as an adopted Forest fan.
“Being Australian I never really had a soft spot for a football club before, but even the way they have been with a sort of muck in mentality and how they have been in every aspect on the netball side has been nothing short of incredible.”
With both semi-finals potentially being away, Pitman has called on “as many reds fans” as possible to come and support the team, who are now three games away from Super League history.
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