Birmingham Panthers’ Gabby Marshall announces her retirement from netball

Birmingham Panthers have confirmed that captain Gabby Marshall will not return to netball following medical advice due to the head injuries she sustained earlier this year.

The decision sees Marshall call time on an exceptional Netball Super League (NSL) career in which she has displayed passion, dedication and inspiring leadership across time spent playing for Manchester Thunder, London Mavericks (formerly known as Saracens Mavericks), Severn Stars and Birmingham Panthers.

Named captain of Birmingham Panthers, the brand-new West Midlands side, for the 2025 season, Marshall has led her team with passion both on and off the court, making her mark on the Club and the League.

Commenting on her decision and thanking her Panthers team for the support they have shown her, Marshall said: “Although I’m devastated my time on court was cut short, I’m truly grateful to have had the opportunity to represent this club. A huge thank you to my teammates for riding the wave with me and to the staff for all your help and support whilst I recover. I also want to thank Panthers fans and the wider netball community for all the well-wishes for my recovery, I really appreciate it. I will be cheering the girls on for the remainder of the season and will always be proud to be a Panther.”

Birmingham Panthers Head Coach Jo Trip thanked Gabby for her contributions to the team, saying: “I’m deeply saddened for Gabs. Suffering two serious head knocks has been incredibly tough on both her and the team. She has been an outstanding teammate and leader, and I have no doubt she will continue to support us in whatever capacity she can for the remainder of the season.”

A fan favourite player, Marshall made her NSL debut in 2013 representing Manchester Thunder and picking up invaluable experience with the North West side, including playing her part in play-off series. She then moved to London where she spent another five years with Mavericks before a move to Severn Stars in 2023 which saw her lead her side to an historic first-ever top four finish in 2024.

Marshall also has eight senior international caps for England. She made her debut against Northern Ireland in 2017 and went on to secure a series win against Uganda in 2018, before traveling to New Zealand to represent England in 2020. She was also part of the England World Youth Cup squad who won a bronze medal in Botswana in 2017 and won the 2017 FAST5 Netball World Series in Melbourne as part of only the second England team to have ever won the tournament.

As Gabby makes this difficult decision to end her playing career the NSL would like to recognise and thank her for her immense contributions to the League over the past 13 years.