Jayda Pechova loving life at Forest after scooping NSL Young Player of the Year Award

Jayda Pechova has to remind herself just how young she is. 

At only 20, the defender has completed her fourth season in the Netball Super League, this time with Nottingham Forest Netball. 

If she needed any more reminder of her youth, Pechova has claimed the NSL Young Player of the Year Award for 2025. 

“I definitely wasn't expecting it,” the Future Rose said. “I do think I've played well this season, and I've really enjoyed playing for Forest. 

“I think as a new team, we've done really well this season. 

“We didn't quite get that top four spot, but hopefully next season we can continue to build, considering we only had maybe three weeks together as a full team before the season started. 

“I love the team. 
I've loved playing for Forest. It's definitely been the best environment I've played in so far.  

“I've just really enjoyed it, and I'm really excited to see what we can do next year and hopefully push forward to get in that top four spot.” 

Pechova spent the previous two seasons at Team Bath, having joined them from her first club London Pulse. 

With Bath not offered a place in the NSL for 2025, Pechova faced a challenging 2024 season, but her fire has been relit at Forest. 

Part of that has come with the players being central to building the new team, alongside the coaching staff, led by Chelsea Pitman. 

She added; “I'm definitely not a cocky player at all, but I think this is the best netball I've played since being in the Super League.  

“I think that shows on court, and I'm definitely enjoying it more, which I think is the main thing. When you're enjoying it, that's when you play your best netball. 
 

“It is sometimes hard to enjoy it when you're not winning any games, it's harder mentally to get excited for game days when you know you're not going to win.

“Whereas this year, we competed with the top teams, and we beat some of them too. I was so excited for every game day and I think I've definitely put some good netball out this season.   

“I can't wait to build on that next year and throughout this summer and then get ready for next season. Hopefully we can push forward.” 

Before Pechova can start thinking about a fifth season in the NSL, she is gunning for selection to England’s squad for the Netball World Youth Cup later this year. 

Pechova has been part of the training group with the team set to be announced this summer before heading to Gibraltar in September. 

“The World Youth Cup, if I get selected, it will just be an incredible experience,” she said. 

“Sometimes I still forget I am age-group age with this being my fourth year in Super League. 

“But I think I have spoken to other coaches about it, and it is something that most players who are now playing for England have done.  

“I think it is important also to go out there and play against players you are probably going to be playing against for the next 10 years of your life, so that is also a big deal.  

“Hopefully, I get selected because I think it will be an incredible experience. The group that we have been training with is such an incredible group and hopefully we can do well in that tournament.”