Kennedy's Fond Farewell To Northumbria

Leah Kennedy is relishing the next stage of her netball career after revealing she has made the difficult decision to leave Team Northumbria.

The England star is expected to sign for a new Netball Superleague side within the next few weeks.

And while Kennedy can’t wait to test herself in an unfamiliar environment, the Darlington defender admitted she thought long and hard about ending her eight-year association with TN.

“It’s a bit disappointing that I couldn’t go out on a high,” said Kennedy.

“That’s what you hope for really but it became clear pretty early on in the Superleague season that my knee wasn’t getting any better and I needed an operation.

“I always felt that it would be my last season in a TN dress and looking at the squad we had I felt it could have been a successful campaign.

“But Kati [Cooper] got injured and then I did too. The girls fought back to take some great wins and I enjoyed being involved on the bench in a coaching capacity.

“But it wasn’t the same as being out there and going out with a bang. That’s a regret. I wanted a show-stopping final season at Sport Central. But I think I got to a point where I realised my body wasn’t indestructible any more.”

Following surgery earlier this year Kennedy is fully recovered and raring to go ahead of the 2018 Superleague season. And she insisted she is leaving behind an evolving TN roster showcasing the very best in emerging netball talent.

“I’m leaving TN in a position of strength,” she added. “Te Aroha is heading into her third season and she has a core of extremely talented young players.

“They can do well in the future but I won’t be a part of that future. For some time I’ve felt it was time to look for a new challenge.

“I’ve become used to being that player who welcomes the new faces and helps them to settle in. It’s a nice position to be in but I need to test myself outside of my comfort zone.

“I want to be the new face and the player under pressure to prove herself in a new team. I need to do something different and see if I can take my game to another level.

“I’m sad to be saying goodbye to TN after eight years but I’m excited by the future.”

Kennedy was handed her NSL debut by current England head coach Tracey Neville in 2009 when she was called upon to defend Loughborough’s legendary Jo Harten.

It was a baptism of fire for the talented teenager but Neville saw enough to know that TN’s young gun had a top-flight future.

Kennedy is now in her second year as a centrally contracted England player and has set her sights on a place at next year’s Commonwealth Games.

“I think the season that I was appointed TN captain was the year I realised I could set my sights higher,” she added.

“I was getting consistent court time, I had been given the responsibility of the captaincy and I was playing against top level players week in, week out.

“The natural step was trying to force my way into the England set-up. I was still only 21 or 22 but I suddenly felt confident enough and experienced enough to take my game to the next level.

“In 2014 I was invited to guest for Manchester Thunder against the Australian national team as part of their Commonwealth Games preparations. That got me noticed and I was invited to travel to Manchester on a regular basis and work with the England training group.”

Kennedy will be sad to say goodbye to Sport Central but she leaves Tyneside as one of TN’s most popular players and with so many positive memories.

“It’s tough to pick the best players I’ve played alongside at TN,” she added. “I’ll have to say Nicole Styles simply because she’ll be so upset if I don’t mention her! But seriously, I think the fact that we enjoyed such a close relationship off the court meant we were more effective on it.

“Vicky Burgess has been a massive part of my netball career and is probably the best North East player I’ve had the pleasure of working with. And Sam Holt is definitely someone who I owe a lot to.

“And then there’s Lisa Stanley. She saved my life. What more can I say? If she didn’t have her wits about her when our coach driver collapsed at the wheel on the M1 who knows what could have happened? A lot of players owe their lives - as well as their careers - to Lisa.

“There are so many people who have helped me get to where I am today and I’d like to thank them all.”