I was channel surfing the other day and stumbled across netball on Sky TV, which was a mighty pleasant surprise. It was the inaugural World Series and featured some fairly mighty tall ladies playing the sport at about 3000 miles an hour. My goodness it took me back.

I have only played netball once in the last 20 or so years and it was great fun to make a return to the court. I was a fairly nifty goal attack in my day if I say so myself, although was barely a trace of any discernible ability as I made a brief and one-off return to the sport two years ago. It was a cold November evening and by the time I finished playing, my fingers looked like purple sausages and my face was steaming.

I was marked by a tall South African Amazonian, who was delightful company, if a little robust in the challenge. It was certainly take no prisoners on the court. Three women were knocked over during the match and although I enjoyed it hugely, I did find it difficult to walk the next day.

I guess it was one of those experiences when the memory and the reality are slightly different. I remember getting hysterically excited when David Soul was a guest on BBC Breakfast. He was my idol in the Starsky and Hutch days (let’s face it you either liked one or the other) and I couldn’t wait to meet him. He was indeed charming and polite and great company. But his hair was no longer a blond mane and the intervening years hadn’t necessarily been the kindest. He had a twinkle in his eye for sure, but he was no longer Hutch. I guess it’s the same for me and netball. I’d love to play regularly again, but my PE skirt no longer fits and alas my mind and body are not quite what they were..... sadly.

If you'd like more netball info, then visit http://www.englandnetball.co.uk/

Tags: David Soul, BBC Breakfast, Sky TV, Starsky and Hutch, Netball

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