As netball and sport fans celebrate of 25 years of elite netball leagues in New Zealand this week, there’s one existing team that’s been there from the start.
The Splice Construction Magic are the only current team today that were there in the initial Coca-Cola Cup in the 1990s.
Former CEO of Magic, Sheryl Dawson remembers the early days of creating a strong family culture that everybody felt a part of in high pressure environments.
“Magic has always been about looking out for each other on and off the court,” reflects Dawson.
“The Magic means a great deal to me,” says the renown sports administrator Dawson.
“The legacy of the Magic is about an environment that encourages people to aspire to play netball, to be involved in the game whether you’re an umpire or official.”
At the start of the 2008 with the introduction of the Trans-Tasman competition, the ANZ Premiership, netball moved to a semi-professional sport.
The Magic were one of five New Zealand teams to be included in the Trans-Tasman competition and in the inaugural year finished runners up to the NSW Swifts.
The team lifted the trophy in 2012 which was a remarkable year for the club given they started the season with four consecutive losses.
“To win in Australia in 2012 that was definitely my favourite Magic memory out of many!” says Dawson.
Current Magic defender Erena Mikaere, who debuted for the team in 2010, says Magic is her home.
“As a youngster growing up Magic was the team that had the best players. I remember Jenny-May [Clarkson] and Amigene [Metcalfe] and just wanted to be part of this team.”
Mikaere says the Magic is all about fun, and laughs as she remembers a fun night of antics on the Gold Coast in 2013 with the team.
“Netball and the Magic comes with everything fun.”
Magic stalwart and Silver Ferns legend Irene van Dyk says the Magic simply means ‘family’.
“When I think of the Magic, I’m in my happy place because I was part of something much bigger than just the game,” adds van Dyk.
“It was the people that made Magic, volunteers, spectators, kids and the best part my team mates.”
The netball legend says heart is the legacy of the Magic – everything is done with passion.
“To me the Magic is a professional brand with a high standard that always aspires to be better than what we were the day before.”
When the Trans-Tasman ANZ Premiership ended in 2016 the Magic remained as one of six New Zealand teams in the now ANZ Premiership.
The Magic come into the heritage round led by Magic stalwart captain Samantha Winders who has been at the club for nine years.
“People want to be part of this club. Look at our leader Sammy now and the likes of Casey [Kopua] and it’s a team that people want to be part of for as long as possible,” says Mikaere.
