The main tournament will take place in Gibraltar between 19-28 September next year

Charlotte Dunkley helped her team qualify for the World Netball Youth Cup, but unfortunately, she will not be able to participate in the tournament after being ruled ineligible due to her age when the event takes place.

Having previously played for Weston Park Blades in Winchester as her first club, Charlotte took part in the qualifiers held in Cardiff between 24-29 September and helped Scotland qualify for the tournament.

Wales and Northern Ireland will also join Scotland in qualifying from the European section. The event featured players from the Isle of Man, the Republic of Ireland, and the UAE.

Originally Charlotte began playing Netball when she was eight at her local primary school after joining an after-school club which piqued her interest in the sport.

This led her to join Weston Park Blades located in Winchester, which would lead to her signing her first professional contract with Surrey Storm when she was 18.

To begin with, Charlotte wasn’t entirely sure if she was going to be able to make the qualifiers after sustaining an injury not too long before the tournament began, but she was determined to make sure she was fit for it as she knew this would be her last event at the under-21 level before ageing out.

Also said it was “something special” to be able to help her team qualify and be a part of the team even though she wouldn’t be able to take part in the World Cup.

When asked about her future goals and aims Charlotte said that the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow held in two years’ time and the Netball World Cup in Sydney in 2027.

As well as getting an international call-up for Scotland, but had been on the radar of the senior squad with them coming down to watch how she and her team performed in Cardiff in the qualifiers, with possibly wanting to call some of them up to the national team in November.

Recently Charlotte had transferred from Surrey Storm to London Pulse saying that going into the previous season she felt like she didn’t have any major expectations of herself and just played freely with no pressure on her shoulders as she wasn’t a senior member of the team having only joined that season but just wanting to improve and make herself a more rounded player.

She believes that the people who have gone before her like the England Women’s Commonwealth Gold medalists help to inspire the next generation and encourage anyone else to go in with an open mind who wants to pick up a Netball and get involved in the sport.

Credit: Elliot Norton

The draw sees Eastleigh sit 13th in the table after earning five points in the first three games under their new manager, as they extend their unbeaten run to four games following the departure of former head coach Kelvin Davis, who left after the loss to Braintree in late September.  

Both goals came from crosses, as Jacob Wakeling’s opener was cancelled out by a towering header from Saunders. The winger cut into the box and jumped highest to meet the deflected cross, powering his header past Laurie Walker.  

The header ensured that Bartlett’s first home game in charge didn’t end in defeat, whilst also solidifying their place in mid-table. The draw for Solihull sees them having won only two of their last five matches as they sit 17^th in the table.  

Ahead of the game, it was confirmed that Eastleigh had signed both Ciaran McGuckin and Luke Skinner on short-term loans, with the former slotting straight into the starting eleven whilst Skinner was among the substitutes.  

Scott Bartlett undoubtedly wanted to get off to a winning start at home following the team’s two-nil win away at Truro midweek. Eastleigh started brightest, but both teams struggled to break down each other’s defence. The first half consisted of a battle of the midfield with Solihull opting for a 4-5-1 formation that looked to take control of the middle of the park. 

Eastleigh created chances in the first half, finding McGuckin on several occasions, who linked up with Aaron Blair to cause problems for Solihull early on. While there were shots on goal, none found the back of the net, with the best chance of the half falling to Eastleigh’s McGuckin, whose effort forced a save from Walker.  

Despite looking more in control, it was Eastleigh who went behind shortly after the second half started as Jacob Wakeling hit home following a low driven cross from Ben Worman, only two minutes after the restart.  

Bartlett’s men responded quickly, creating chances that nearly saw them level. Blair and Davis linked up on the right-hand side before a low cross was met again by McGuckin, who saw his effort cleared off the line by Solihull’s defence.  

Only a few minutes later and Eastleigh were level as a deflected cross was met by Harvey Saunders, who had drifted into the box.  

Both teams pushed on for a winner, with the best chance falling to new Eastleigh signing Luke Skinne,r who came off the bench to replace the injured Aaron Blair. His effort was saved by Walker.  

Full time at the Silverlake with the points shared between the teams as the new Eastleigh boss Scott Bartlett continues his undefeated run as manager, having taken five points from his first three games. 

‘It’s not about me’  

Eastleigh’s head coach Scott Bartlett told Winchester News Online: 

“It’s not necessarily about me, but it’s about the players and their relationship with the supporters; it’s really important”  

When asked about the injury to Aaron Blair Bartlett said: 

‘Obviously just spoken to him but I don’t know, we probably won’t know that for another day or two, but it didn’t look a great one from experience…’ 

‘We just hope that it’s not long because he’s been brilliant for us since I’ve been here and previously, I understand. He’ll be a miss, but that’s what you have a squad for, and it’s up to someone else to step up while we give Aaron the time to recover.” 

The year was 1973. The lights of the Houston Astrodome glared down on a tennis court that had become more than just a playing field — it was a stage for a cultural revolution.

Cameras flashed, tension buzzed in the air, and two players stepped onto the court — one a confident showman, the other a determined trailblaser carrying the hopes of millions.

As the first serve sliced through the air on that September evening, millions around the world weren’t just watching a tennis match — they were witnessing a fight for equality, respect, and change.

Billie Jean King is a legendary American tennis champion and advocate for gender equality whose career and impact extends far beyond the court.

With 39 Grand Slams titles and a historic victory in 1973, “Battle of the Sexes” match, she not only proved her athletic ability but also challenged stereotypes about women within the world of sport.

As a founder of the Women’s Tennis Association and a leader behind equal prize money, King became a powerful force for fairness and inclusion, later emerging as a voice for LGBTQ+ rights.

Her legacy as both a world class athlete and a fearless activist changed the game for generations to come.

The “Battle of the Sexes” was a famous match, between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs, a former men’s champion who was adamant that men were superior athletes.

The match was played in front of more than 30,000 fans at the Houston Astrodome and watched by roughly 90 million people worldwide, the event was a both a sporting spectacle and a major milestone in the fight for gender equality.

Billie Jean King defeated Riggs in straight sets (6-4, 6-3, 6-3), this proved that women could compete in the highest level which inspired greater respect and opportunities for female athletes around the world.

The event’s impact was immediate. Women’s tennis surged in popularity, drawing new audiences, sponsorships, and media coverage. King used the momentum to push for lasting change.

This helped the US Open to become the first major tournament to offer equal pay. Her win also empowered a new generation of female athletes to come out and code and what was rightfully theirs.

More than five decades later, the Battle of the Sexes remains a cultural milestone.

It symbolised more than just a tennis match, it was a statement about equality, perseverance, and the power of sport to challenge societal norms.