ANNA Newell knows what it is like to miss out on a medal - and doesn't want to have that feeling again.
The 22-year-old took part in the Under 21 World Youth Championships four years ago while the England's senior netball squad were winning a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur.
The young team faced a play-off against New Zealand and ended up just missing out, finishing fourth.
"It was agony," said the former St Augustine's pupil who played netball for Hyndburn and now plays in the National Super League for YWCA.
"I never want to go through that again. The feeling of missing out was the worst ever."
Instead, members of the current squad have been telling her how they felt when they were picking up that bronze in 1998 - and she wants to help the team go one or even two better in the Commonwealth Games in Manchester.
"They keep telling me how great it was to stand on a podium, and to pick up a medal. Just the feeling of getting one," said the Rishton girl.
"We talk about it quite regularly and it spurs us on. We want a medal and we will be disappointed if we don't get one."
Australia are the current World Champions, New Zealand are second and England are third in the rankings.
Netball was introduced into the Commonwealth Games for the first time in Kuala Lumpur and was a big hit. It is expected to have the same impact at Manchester, especially with Tracey Neville, the sister of Manchester United's Gary and Phil, leading the charge.
Tracey has been capped 51 times whereas Anna is relatively inexperienced on the senior tour, winning her first England call-up last year.
But Anna, who plays wing defence or centre, has made a big impact and hopes to be involved in the medals.
England have avoided Australia, Jamaica and Barbados in the draw for the Games as Pool A is England, New Zealand, Canada, Wales and Sri Lanka.
Pool B is Australia, Barbados, Jamaica, Oceania Republic and South Africa.
"We have avoided Australia and Jamaica but I still don't think it would be easy," she said
England kick off against Canada on July 26, followed by Sri Lanka the day after, Wales after that and New Zealand on the 29.
The winner's from each pool will go into the last four and will face either the second and third teams, who will play off.
It promises to be one of the most exciting events of the tournament - and Anna, who is currently studying psychology at the University of Central Lancashire, thinks the audience, especially those seeing it for the first time, will be impressed.
"I am sure it will be great in Manchester, the atmosphere should be fantastic.
"I have invited some people to come and watch me in the past and they are shocked by the pace of it all, even the boys who don't understand the rules.
"They are surprised by how much contact there is and how tactical it is. They are used to school netball and can't believe the difference in standard.
"The tactics have come along way in recent years."
It will be a frantic game and Anna doesn't know if she will be in the starting nine but she will be working hard with the rest of the squad.
"It doesn't matter if you are on the bench as you still feel a part of it," she admitted.
"While you are on the bench you are putting the pressure on the person on the court to perform to their best or else you are waiting to take their place.
"If they don't perform you get your chance, so you are making them do their best out there.
"I think people who turned up would be shocked at how much training we do. A week in the life of a netballer is tough, I think people would be surprised how much work goes behind it.
"It's about two or three hours every day seven days a week depending on what we have coming up. In June it will be on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday for six weeks intense training.
"There is a lot of fitness work, track work on court stuff and speed work. It is very hard and very pressurised."
The atmosphere of the MEN Arena will be like a hot house but Anna believes the English girls can cope.
"The girls been through it all before as when you go to New Zealand and Australia and play there it is very full on. You get loads of attention so I think we will all be able to cope.
"It's amazing as well considering the average age of the England team is only about 21. That is incredible. We are an extremely young side."
Australia and New Zealand are the rivals but there are others to watch out for.
"We haven't beaten Australia in recent times although we came very close last year.
"We were only losing by two goals throughout the game going into the final quarter and then we lost by four or five at the end. But it was close, they are quality side.
"But you can't underestimate any sides from the Caribbean. They all have ability and are unpredictable."
It could propel Anna into the national limelight along with the rest of her side. But at the moment the quiet build up is suiting her.
ANNA is determined to battle for her place in the England squad after missing out on a call-up for the Test series against Australia, highly-rated Barbados and Northern Ireland in the MEN Arena as a warm-up to the Games.
The selectors chose a 12-strong squad from 14 in Nottingham at the weekend to compete in the Tests. Anna was the only girl to miss out after another had been deselected for injury.
"I am disappointed to miss out on the Tests but I will still play for the Development squad against the three teams and it has made me more determined to win a place in the Games," she said.
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