Royals Netball Club History

Royals Netball Club is one of the oldest netball clubs in Western Australia, its outstanding success on and off the courts is unlikely to be surpassed anywhere in the world.

Originating as a team of young and eager players at Kent Street High School in 1953 and coached by an enthusiastic Physical Education teacher in Bette Allison, the Kent Street Greens went from strength to strength and in 1955 won the A2 premiership, just two years from the club's formation. Bette Allison's dream was to develop, in Western Australia women's netball, the skills necessary to be successful at club, interstate and international levels.

By 1960 there were three Kent Street teams in A1 division (Greens, Greys and Blues, later renamed Royals) with fierce competition between them. From 1953 1961 the games were played on the Perth foreshore at Langley Park.

The Kent Street teams moved to Wembley to what is now the Mathews Netball Centre when it was completed in 1961. In 1963, Kent Street was renamed as Royals Club. Until 1970, Netball as we know it was called Women's Basketball so Royals Club was later renamed Royals Netball Club.

Since 1963 Royals has established a reputation of promoting skills and the highest of performance standards in netball. Furthermore, the club promotes an atmosphere of close rapport that has seen daughters of former players representing the club.

Royals has an amazing record of participation of players in higher service in the game, including representation at Association, State Schoolgirls, State League and All Australian levels. Royals has also produced International, Australian and State coaches.

The Royals Netball Club has been very successful in the premier A1 Division winning over twenty-eight premiership cups in its history. The A1 sides have been Minor Premiers twenty times and have lead the goal aggregate sixteen times.

In the 1960's Royals number one team won six consecutive premierships but surpassed this feat in the 80's with seven consecutive premierships. They continued to win premierships in the 90's, seven, and into the new millennium.

A number of current Royals senior players and coaches have had the privilege of being coached and mentored by the late Bette Allison. The club continues to this day to operate with the traditions set by its founding President and to celebrate success both on and off court.

Royals has a strong core of dedicated players, coaches, umpires and tireless volunteers and Life Members who give invaluable support to making the club a competitive and fun environment. Our end of season function, fundraising and social events are always a highlight, and the strong club culture means many life friendships are formed by the players.

Royals is proud of its history within Australian netball and looks forward to upholding its esteemed reputation into the future.