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The Astra club, which has its home in the Alworth Road sports centre at Our Lady's High School in Blackley, was set up eight or nine years ago for women of all ages.

Players range from teenagers to 40-year-olds divided into four teams competing in the Manchester Evening Netball League and boast the skills of Crumpsall-based county player Ingrid Browne in the first team.

Jackie Browne, the club's youth contact, explained that many players give up when they have children so they are constantly seeking new blood.

She said: "It's mainly a women's game and it's very popular but sometimes we're struggling. When women reach their 20s they usually want to start a family and leave when they get pregnant.

"Our first team is doing quite well as are the second and fourth teams but our third team is struggling because of this problem and we're looking to recruit more players."

Jackie said potential players must be of a fairly good standard but they have regular weekly training sessions so anyone who has not played for a while but would like to return to the game can join in.

Players have got to be committed to come to matches and won't let the team down at the last minute.

Training sessions last one to two hours and matches are held in the evenings once or sometimes twice a week during the season from September to March.

The first team plays away to Hyde on March 7 in the last match of the season for their division but Astra teams in the lower divisions will be playing at home on March 9.

Anyone interested in joining is invited to go along to the game or contact Jackie on 0161 795 4053 after 6pm.