Written by Maria Thompson / Amy Tuscher
📸 @englandnetball
Anna Stembridge's appointment as England Roses head coach has divided supporters, with the return of two familiar faces to the coaching set-up raising questions about whether England have made the right decision ahead of the 2027 Netball World Cup.
Following a disappointing Commonwealth Games campaign in Glasgow, which saw England miss out on a medal, attention quickly turned to who would lead the Roses into the 2027 Netball World Cup in Sydney.
With England Netball undertaking a recruitment process to appoint a permanent head coach, there was a sense of anticipation among supporters hoping for a fresh approach.
However, that excitement was quickly dampened for some when it was announced that Anna Stembridge would remain in charge, having held the position on an interim basis since March following Jess Thirlby's departure.
For many fans, the decision has raised a familiar question: how can England expect different results if they continue to turn to the same faces?
A Familiar Face, But Is It the Right Decision?
Stembridge is certainly no stranger to the England set-up, having previously served as head coach between 2011 and 2015 before returning as assistant coach in September 2024.
Her first spell included a historic series victory over Australia in 2013, demonstrating her ability to compete against the very best. However, England also finished fourth at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, narrowly missing out on a medal.
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Fast forward to 2026, and history has repeated itself.
England's Commonwealth Games campaign ended in disappointment as they suffered a 68-50 defeat to Australia in the bronze medal match, leaving the Roses without a place on the podium.
For a nation that reached its first Netball World Cup final in 2023 and famously claimed Commonwealth gold in 2018, expectations have understandably grown.
England are no longer a side simply hoping to compete with the world's best. They are a nation with ambitions of consistently challenging Australia, New Zealand and Jamaica for major honours.
Yet, despite the progress made over the years, there remains a frustrating gap between England's potential and their ability to deliver when it matters most.
Stembridge has experience, understands the players and knows the demands of international netball. However, with another major tournament approaching, supporters are entitled to question whether familiarity is enough.
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Can Harten and Greenway Bring Something Different?
While the decision to retain Stembridge has attracted criticism, England Netball has made two notable additions to its technical coaching team.
Former England internationals Jo Harten and Tamsin Greenway will join the set-up as the Roses prepare for Sydney.
Harten, who enjoyed an outstanding international playing career, brings a wealth of attacking knowledge and experience from competing at the highest level.
Having spent much of her playing career in Australia, she now works as an assistant coach with NSW Swifts, where she is involved in developing some of the game's leading attacking talent.
Her understanding of shooting combinations, movement and decision-making under pressure could prove invaluable for an England side looking to become more clinical against the world's strongest opponents.
Greenway, meanwhile, brings significant coaching experience alongside her successful international playing career.
Currently head coach of London Mavericks, she previously led Scotland between 2020 and 2023 and has established herself as a respected voice within the sport.
Her tactical understanding and willingness to challenge conventional thinking could offer England a different perspective.
On paper, both appointments should be viewed positively.
However, the bigger question is whether they will be given the freedom to influence England's style of play or whether they will simply be expected to work within an already established system.
After all, fresh faces on the coaching team do not necessarily guarantee fresh ideas on the court.
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Fans Make Their Frustrations Clear
Following the announcement, reaction across social media was mixed, with some supporters welcoming the experience within the coaching team while others expressed disappointment at the decision to retain Stembridge.
While it is important to remember that criticism should always remain respectful, supporters should also feel comfortable expressing their opinions about the direction of a team they care passionately about.
For the past few years, Roses fans have grown increasingly frustrated with decisions made both on and off the court.
After scrolling through social media myself, two comments particularly stood out.
Kat, posting on X, said:
"Underwhelmed yet again. And sorry for being negative but tell me what other sports would re-hire a sacked head coach who consistently underperforms at major tournaments. Planned to go to Sydney next year for WC but I genuinely don’t know if I can do that now"
Another supporter commented:
"Nothing says lacking in ambition than appointing a coach that has already tried and failed. We needed new blood and new ideas"
These reactions highlight the growing frustration among sections of the fanbase.
Of course, social media does not represent every England supporter, and there will be those who believe Stembridge deserves the opportunity to build on the work she has already started.
However, the strength of feeling surrounding the announcement suggests that patience is wearing thin.
For many supporters, the issue is not necessarily Stembridge's ability as a coach, but whether England Netball has been ambitious enough in its decision-making.
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Continuity or a Missed Opportunity?
There is undoubtedly an argument for maintaining stability within the England camp.
With less than a year until the World Cup, appointing an entirely new head coach could have disrupted preparations at a crucial stage.
Stembridge already knows the players, understands their strengths and weaknesses, and has established relationships within the squad.
That familiarity could allow England to focus on improving performances rather than spending valuable time adapting to a completely new coaching philosophy.
However, continuity can also become a weakness if it prevents a team from evolving.
England's fourth-place finish in Glasgow highlighted the challenges they still face when competing against the world's leading nations.
Their defeat to Australia demonstrated the importance of maintaining composure, reducing errors and being clinical under pressure.
These are areas that must improve if England are to challenge for silverware in Sydney.
There is also the question of whether a different coaching appointment could have brought the fresh perspective that some supporters have been calling for.
Sometimes a new voice, a different tactical approach or a willingness to make difficult selection decisions can provide the spark a team needs.
England Netball has instead chosen to place its faith in someone who already knows the system.
Whether that proves to be a sensible decision or a missed opportunity will ultimately depend on what happens next.
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Sydney 2027: The Ultimate Test
The 2027 Netball World Cup, taking place in Sydney from 25 August to 5 September, now represents a defining challenge for Stembridge and her coaching team.
England know they have the talent to compete at the highest level.
Their historic run to the 2023 World Cup final demonstrated exactly what this team is capable of, even if Australia ultimately denied them the title.
However, the landscape of international netball remains fiercely competitive.
Australia will be determined to defend their world title on home soil, while New Zealand and Jamaica will also have ambitions of lifting the trophy.
For England to compete, they must find a way to turn promising performances into consistent results against the very best.
That means improving their attacking efficiency, developing stronger combinations and ensuring they can respond when opponents apply sustained pressure.
The appointments of Harten and Greenway could be crucial in addressing some of those challenges.
But with time running out before Sydney, England cannot afford to spend another major tournament searching for answers.
The expectation is no longer simply to reach the latter stages of competitions. Supporters want to see England genuinely challenging for titles.
Will England Live to Regret Their Decision?
Ultimately, Stembridge's appointment will not be judged by the reaction on social media, but by what England achieve on the court.
There is no denying her experience or commitment to the Roses, and the additions of Harten and Greenway offer reasons for optimism.
However, England Netball must also recognise the frustration among supporters who have watched their team come close to success without consistently delivering the silverware they believe this group is capable of winning.
While consistency and stability can be valuable, there comes a point when difficult questions must be asked about whether maintaining the same approach will produce different results.
For many Roses supporters, that point appears to have arrived.
With Sydney 2027 fast approaching, England Netball has chosen familiarity over a complete reset.
Perhaps that decision will prove inspired, and the combination of Stembridge, Harten and Greenway will finally help England take the next step.
But if the Roses fall short once again, those in charge may be left facing an uncomfortable question.
Did England Netball miss its opportunity to make a bold change when it mattered most?
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