The Northern Rays, who are part of the new Sapphire Series hosted by Netball Queensland, were given notification on Sunday that their participation in the competition will be suspended following their upcoming match.

The club provides a semi-professional platform for not only netball players in the Townsville and MacKay region but umpires and coaches.

Unfortunately running a team comes at a cost and the Rays were informed they needed to raise some $80,000-100,000 to keep their season alive.

The club, who was unable to secure major sponsors heading into the season, is now calling upon the local community to help save the team.

“We knew we didn’t have major sponsor and were struggling with cash, but the severity of the action being taken was a shock,” Northern Rays coach Jillian Joyce told the Townsville Bulletin.

“We knew we’d have to make sacrifices in training and travel and that’s what we were expecting the chat to be, so we didn’t expect Netball Queensland would tell us our participation would be suspended."

The Rays are fighting hard to not only secure their future but the future of upcoming and coming netballers in the region.

“I get upset not just for the girls this year, but I have a six-year-old who needs that pathway, so when she’s 12, she doesn't have to be moved down south,” Joyce said.

The Rays have set up a GoFundMe page which has raised over $6,000 of their $8,000 target.

To assist the plight, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/keep-northern-rays-alive.

For sponsorship options, contact: northernrays@netballq.org.au