Back in 2023, Orkney-based netball star Zara Flett admits she was shocked to be named in the Strathclyde Sirens 23/24 squad – something she had always dreamed of but believed was still a few years away.
Now training with the Scotland National squad, Zara balances representing her country with representing Orkney – something she still values greatly.
We sat down with the 21-year-old to look back on the whirlwind of the last few years and find out what it means to live on an island whilst competing at the top of her game.
Where it all started
Growing up with a mum who played for the Orkney senior team, netball has been part of Zara’s life for as long as she can remember.
“I remember thinking that going to watch mum at the Thursday night league was the best thing ever,” she shared.
“Maybe because I got to stay up later than usual.”
From there, Zara was determined to get her own hands on a netball and started playing in primary school leagues from the age of 9.
Reflecting on those early years, Zara recalls travelling to Perth in P6 to watch her older sister compete with the P7 team.
“There was a shooting competition at the end and none of the P7s who were actually playing wanted to do it, so I did and ended up winning.
“I remember feeling such a buzz and probably starting to realise how much I wanted to perform well in the sport.”
National call up
In secondary school, Zara’s passion only grew, playing for the U15 Orkney district team and regularly travelling to the mainland with a small group for north district pathway training.
When Zara moved up an age group, her coach in Orkney put her forward to trial for the U17 Scotland squad.
“That whole experience was wild, and I couldn’t believe it when I got in,” she told us.
Zara played for the side for two seasons whilst still occasionally playing at the district level for Orkney. Reflecting on her experience of balancing the two, Zara shares how much she continues to value her netball back home and holds memories like winning the U17 inter-district cup for Orkney as dearly as gaining her first cap for Scotland.
“I think what’s so special about playing in Orkney is all the trips away. The games are what we travel for but it’s everything in between that really brings you together as a team.”
Moving up
With covid hitting at the end of her two years with the U17 squad, Zara recalls thinking that it might be the end of the road for her Scotland netball journey.
“I think I’d made peace with the prospect of just playing for Orkney going forward,” she shared.
“So, when things started to go back to normal, I was really pleasantly surprised to be invited down to trial for the U21 squad.”
Zara was selected for the squad for the 2022/23 season and was invited to play in Netball Scotland’s Super Cup in the same year.
“That was a really cool experience, especially getting to play with people like Bethan Goodwin who I’d always looked up to.”
A dream come true
Opportunities have continued to come Zara’s way over the last couple of years. In June 2023, she was invited to play in the Netball Super League’s Fast5 tournament for Scotland’s professional netball team, the Sirens.
“That was really unexpected and just such an amazing experience to pull on the Sirens dress and get a taste of playing professionally.”
Zara made a strong impression and just 2 months later, she found herself on a call with Sirens Head Coach Lesley Macdonald being offered a place in the full squad for the season ahead.
“My face was probably priceless that whole call – I just couldn’t believe it.”
At just 20 years old, Zara joined the team as one of the youngest in the squad and indeed the entire Super League.
Zara made her Netball Super League debut against Severn Stars back in February this year. Reflecting on that experience, she told us:
“It was just crazy to think of all the times I’d been in the crowd as a spectator and thought how cool it would be to be playing.
“I’ve always tried to remember that and make sure I never take the position I’m in for granted.”
Balancing island life
At the same time as Zara was getting prepped to make her Super League debut, she had another big competition on her mind. The first-ever Island Invitational Netball Games took place in November 2023 with Zara joining her Orkney teammates on the Isle of Man for the 5-day competition.
“That was actually the first week of Sirens training, so I was really grateful that my coaches were so flexible and understood how important that competition was to me.”
“In Orkney, we don’t get as many competitive opportunities as we would like so being able to pull on the Orkney dress for five games in five days was just amazing.”
Following a victory in their last and most anticipated game against Shetland Zara headed home with the team, only to return to the mainland a few days later for Sirens training.
Zara is no stranger to the coming and going, sharing that in the last year, she has made over 20 return journeys for training and games.
“It’s obviously a lot but because I’ve been doing it since I was so young it does just feel normal for me.
“I’ve definitely considered moving away to make things easier, but I really love being at home and wouldn’t want to lose playing netball here.”
Zara is grateful for the financial support she receives from the sportscotland Athlete Travel Award Scheme which helps alleviate some of her travel costs.
To the future
Now training full-time with the Scotland senior squad, Zara has just recently completed three intense months of weekend camps with the team.
“The training has been really ideal for me as it means I can still train with the Orkney team through the week and play in the Thursday night league here,” she told us.
Heading into 2025, Zara is looking forward to playing for her new team, Glasgow Saltires, in Netball Scotland’s National League and hopes to gain her senior Scotland cap.
Back home, she has her sights set on continuing her winning streak against Shetland in the annual senior inter-country competition.
“I have never actually lost a game against Shetland so I’m really hoping to keep it that way next year.
“Those games are so special, and I think really unique to the islands.
“When I look back at my netball journey, of all the games I’ve played, for Scotland and in the Super League, nothing quite compares to facing Shetland and the incredible atmosphere that always brings.”
More info
The sportscotland Athlete Travel Award Scheme (ATAS) supports travel costs for Highland and island competitors to help talented athletes from the Outer Hebrides, Orkney, Shetland and Highland to gain better access to competitive and developmental opportunities available on the mainland. The scheme in Orkney runs in partnership with Orkney Islands Council and Stagecoach. Successful applicants benefit from up to £1,500 to support travel and accommodation costs in attending training and competitions.
