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'We had Trump and Wonka at our Halloween tournament'

Georgie DockerNorth West
Nice Netball Four people take a selfie in Fancy dress. One wears an orange wig, green jumpsuit and green hat. Another wears a purple suit with yellow bow tie, sunglasses and a tall hat. One woman is painted orange with thick eyebrows and a green wig. And one man wears a 'Make America Great Again red hat'.Nice Netball
Netballers and volunteer marshals put in a colourful appearance at a tournament in Liverpool where fancy dress was compulsory

A woman who created a netball network to help people make new friends has hosted a Halloween tournament where "fancy dress was compulsory" while "playing a bit of netball was in the background."

Izzy Mills, 28, from Lytham, in Lancashire, thought she would "never meet [her] tribe" after struggling with friendships at school.

Izzy now runs a network of 30 different clubs across the North West, called Nice Netball.

And to celebrate Halloween, 56 women from the network came together in Liverpool for a spooky tournament - where fancy dress was non-negotiable.

"It's all about having fun," Izzy said, "We had everything from Donald Trump to Willy Wonka at our Halloween tournament."

Nice Netball A team of women wearing fancy dress. One is dressed as a pumpkin and five are dressed as different coloured crayons. There are four dressed as cheerleaders. They stand on a tarmac court. Nice Netball
'We play netball but the social side of it is so much more important to us,' Izzy said

Izzy said Nice Netball came about because she was finding it difficult to meet new people in her 20s.

"At this stage in life it's hard to meet new people," Izzy said. "Once you get into your 20s and 30s, 40s, et cetera.

"I never felt like I slotted in anywhere - my school years weren't that great.

"I sort of thought once I left school that would be it and I wouldn't meet my tribe."

After going to a local netball club with a friend, she decided to start a group of her own - but one that was more about the social side than the competition.

"I decided to create like a space for women to come and have a laugh, have some fun and also play a bit of netball," she said.

"Now I have 30 groups across the North West."

Nice Netball Seven women dressed in matching skeleton costumes stand on a netball court. One kneels at the front holding a netball.Nice Netball
All eight teams wore fancy dress to attend the tournament last weekend at Deyes High School in Liverpool

Izzy said Nice Netball attracts women from ages 18 to 87.

"It's great because we are in a bit of a an epidemic of loneliness since Covid... with people working from home.

"And we've had women who've come through post-natal depression and divorce.

"It it has helped so many women."

Nice Netball A group of 7 women stand on a netball court wearing red bibs. They are wearing pigtails and painted in red fake blood. Nice Netball
Izzy said she plans on making the Halloween tournament an annual event

"We are open to all abilities," She added. "It's just all about having fun."

Netball where nice comes first

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