Beth Cobden hails 'unbelievable' Commonwealth Games gold

Cobden,who grew up in Heath Hayes and now lives in Lichfield, is one of the stand-out players in netball’s Super League, earning a place on the All Star team last season after her performances with club side Loughborough Lightning.

But the 25-year old has made a dramatic graduation to the international stage on the Gold Coast, as a starting member of Tracey Neville’s all-conquering team,

“It’s such an unbelievable and surreal feeling,” said Cobden. “I don’t think I’ll ever stop shaking, it’s just so emotional.

“When you start playing netball at school you never dream that you could be here with a gold medal around your neck.

“Australia have been the best team in the world for so long now and to beat them in their own country is just the stuff of dreams.

“There are girls in this team who have played at five Games and never made a final, so I feel so lucky to have won a gold at the first time I’ve tried.

“This means everything to the sport in our country and hopefully people will see this and want to play or watch.”

England hadn’t played a major netball final since 1975 but edged out hosts Australia and silenced a partisan home crowd with their second buzzer beating victory in 24 hours.

These girls have certainly learned the art of leaving it late and making you sweat.

Jo Harken drained the last gasp goal to beat Jamaica in the semi-finals and Helen Housby held her nerve to win a dramatic final 52-51.

It sparked scenes reminiscent of the women’s hockey team in Rio, as players rushed onto the court in wide-eyed disbelief, wrapping themselves in flags, rolling around the floor and crying tears of undiluted joy and relief.

The final was always close, as both teams went point for point, never building up more than a slender lead. It was deadlocked at half-time and deadlocked with a second remaining, until Housby’s heroics.

And it could be the start of things to come, with the next World Cup staged on home soil in Liverpool next year, an event England have also never won.

“We’ve ourselves in a great position for the World Cup and hopefully everyone buys tickets and supports us and realises what a great sport this is, added Cobden.

“I’m back in club action next weekend, there’s no time to rest but I’m determined to enjoy this right now.

“I couldn’t look when Helen had that shot but I’ve played with her and believe in her and I knew she’d get the job done.”

PLEASE LEAVE IN FINAL PAR: npower is the Official Partner of Team England and is giving our athletes the power of support by recording a brand new version of their anthem, Jerusalem. To listen to the track visit npower.com/teamengland