On Saturday 15 September º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ alumnae Olivia Murphy and Ama Agbeze were deservedly inducted into the England Netball Hall of Fame.
Murphy’s netball journey has gone full circle, given she is currently the º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ Lightning Netball Franchise Director, after spells as Head Coach and Assistant Coach. Most people, however, know her for her on court accolades, which include 95 international caps, a large proportion of those coming as England captain between 2000-2006. During her spell playing for the England Roses Murphy won World Championship bronze as well as a pair of Commonwealth Games bronze medals in 1998 and 2006, the latter alongside Agbeze.
Asked about her netball highlight she cites three: captaining England for the first time, winning her first major medal at the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur and her final international match at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games, where the team beat Jamaica in the dying seconds to clinch bronze.
Already a member of both the º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ and º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ Lightning Hall of Fame, Murphy was delighted to be inducted into the England Netball equivalent, commenting:
“I am very proud to have been recognised by England Netball in this way. I am humbled to join such a prestigious group of people and thankful to all the people that have supported me throughout my journey.”
Agbeze has enjoyed similar success to her former England and Lightning teammate, making her international debut in 2001 and being named England captain some 15 years later. Two years on Agbeze captained the side to England Netball’s greatest achievement, gold at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games earlier this year.
The goal keeper/defender has enjoyed two stints with Lightning as well as playing for the University during her time studying Finance and Management, from which she graduated in 2007 with an MSc.
On behalf of º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ, huge congratulations to both Ama and Olivia – this is just reward for their contribution to netball in the UK.
Notes for editors
Press release reference number: PR 18/125
º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ is equipped with a live in-house broadcast unit via the Globelynx network. To arrange an interview with one of our experts please contact the press office on 01509 223491. Bookings can be made online via www.globelynx.com
º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.
It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme, named the best university in the world for sports-related subjects in the 2018 QS World University Rankings, top in the country for its student experience in the 2018 THE Student Experience Survey and named University of the Year in the Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2018.
º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ is in the top 10 of every national league table, being ranked 4th in the Guardian University League Table 2019, 7th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2018 and 7th in The UK Complete University Guide 2019. It was also named Sports University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2017.
º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’ and is in the top 10 in England for research intensity. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes.
The º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ London campus is based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and offers postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities. It is home to influential thought leaders, pioneering researchers and creative innovators who provide students with the highest quality of teaching and the very latest in modern thinking.
