Chloe Essam completes Loughborough Lightning Superleague line-up
Tuesday 25 October 2016 18:27, UK
Loughborough Lightning have confirmed the final member of the squad for the 2017 Vitality Superleague season with 16-year-old Chloe Essam completing the line-up.
Karen Atkinson has been building a squad to compete in the all-new 10-team Superleague next season and having retained last season's star names have been adding the final pieces to the 12-player roster.
Lightning will be looking to improve on last season's fifth-placed Superleague finish in a competition that will feature three new teams, and the squads have been trimmed from 14 to 12 making for a more competitive environment.
Teenage sensation Essam is already an England U19 international and will join three other new arrivals for Loughborough.
"I feel very honoured to be given the opportunity to represent Loughborough Lightning at this level of netball," said Essam.
"I'm excited about the whole experience of training and playing in a completely new environment, amongst some amazing national and international players. I can't wait for the season to begin!"
England pair Beth Cobden and Vicky Oyesola have been joined by Scotland international goalkeeper Ella Gibbons as head coach Atkinson and her coaching team replace the experience of the Corbin sisters (Kadeen and Sasha) and England captain Ama Agbeze who will all be playing in Australia and New Zealand next season.
Last week overseas pair Jo Trip and Vanessa Walker were confirmed as returning, while Rebekah Airey, Brittany Coleman, Hannah Joseph, Lauren Nicholls, Natalie Panagarry, Peace Proscovia are all back again.
I am delighted with the mix of players we have been able to bring together for this season’s Superleague. <p>The most important priority for me was continuity from last season and retaining nine players in a rapidly changing era of netball is phenomenal.<p>The blend of exciting youth and experienced Super League and International players is perfect and it is fantastic to have them all at Loughborough for both our team sessions, but also the exceptional full-time programme that we offer here.
Loughborough Lightning 2017 Superleague Squad - Rebekah Airey, Beth Cobden, Brittany Coleman, Chloe Essam, Ella Gibbons, Hannah Joseph, Lauren Nicholls, Vicky Oyesola, Natalie Panagarry, Peace Proscovia, Jo Trip, Vanessa Walker.
