CITY netballers are celebrating after securing promotion to the highest level of club competition in England.

Worcester Reds will be coming face-to-face with teams laden with England internationals next season in England Netball’s Premier League One after prevailing in the end-of-season play-offs in Sheffield.

Reds are the performance squad of Worcester Netball Club and, as an amateur set-up, cannot go beyond Premier League One, the top recreational league.

Above them is the Netball Superleague, the top level of elite netball in the country featuring eight franchised teams from England and Wales.

Delighted Worcester secretary Becky Atkins said: “We are now the only club in the West Midlands and the south-west area with a squad in National Premier League One.

“Next season will see the squad battle against teams who feed the dominant Superleague franchise and it will be a great challenge.”

Atkins hailed the character of captain Rachel Sweet and the Worcestershire contingent of Hayley Rudd, Chloe Burrow, Laura Gale, Phillipa Yarranton, Lucy Herdman and Erin Allport.

Reds competed in Premier League One for the first time in the 2014-15 season but found it tough and were relegated after just one campaign.

But Atkins believes Worcester’s players have learned from that “eye-opening” experience and shown character to bounce back at the first attempt.

Reds sealed their play-off place at the English Institute Of Sport after finishing runners-up to Tameside in Premier League Two.

The Worcester club won 12 and lost six of their 18 league fixtures in Premier League Two. Reds then prevailed in the play-offs after tough matches with Bromsgrove’s Ryland, Team Bath and Leeds.

“Two key players suffered injuries but the squad continued to fight hard to turnover ball in the games against Bath to win 50-45,” said Atkins.

Reds drew 36-36 against Ryland and lost 45-34 to Leeds in their final match in Sheffield but the win was enough to secure promotion.

“We are a close-knit group and had the most supporters from any of the teams at the play-offs,” said Atkins. “The level of the support was fantastic and made a massive difference.

“To gain promotion is a fantastic achievement for our coach Steve McLeod and we are hugely proud of the girls’ commitment to the club and their training schedules.”

Reds play home matches at the St John’s campus at the University of Worcester and start pre-season training at the end of this month.

Atkins added: “We know how tough it is going to be next season but we will be more prepared for it because it was an eye-opener the last time we were in the highest division.

“We have had some different players with several new signings coming into the squad and some home-grown talent.”

Open trials for Worcester’s under 14s, 16s and 19s academies will be in July.

For details, email Atkins at beckyatkins2@gmail.com.