​Great weekend for our Juniors! 

 East Grinstead Hockey Club sent both an U12 Boys and U12 Girls team to this year's Mercia Cup at Malvern College, enjoying a fantastic weekend of competitive hockey, team bonding and unforgettable memories.

Staying overnight in the college dormitories, the Mercia Cup brings together some of the strongest Tier 1 junior clubs from across the country, offering players the chance to test themselves against top-quality opposition while enjoying a fun and friendly tournament atmosphere during the height of the summer.

Our U12B produced an excellent performance to finish a highly respectable 5th place, narrowly missing out on a semi-final spot despite being one of the youngest squads in the competition. The boys played some exceptional hockey throughout the weekend against outstanding opposition, while also making the most of the experience away from the pitch with games of cricket, football and table tennis. A brilliant effort from everyone involved!

The U12G saved some of their very best hockey of the season for the biggest stage, producing a superb tournament performance to be crowned Mercia Cup Champions. The girls topped their group, before beating West Panthers 1-0 in the semi final, and eventually defeating Haslemere 4-1 in the final to lift the trophy, finishing the weekend with an incredible record of 24 goals scored and just 2 conceded across seven matches. A special congratulations also goes to P. Lambert, who finished as the tournament's top goalscorer. The girls added this medal to their incredible list of achievements this season!

It was fantastic to see players building friendships not only within their own squads but across both teams, creating memories that will last long after the final whistle.

A huge thank you to the Mercia Cup organisers for hosting such a great event, to our coaches and volunteers for their commitment throughout the weekend, and to all the parents whose unwavering support helped make the trip so special.

"Both of our teams had a fantastic weekend. While it's always rewarding to see them achieve success on the pitch, what stood out even more was the way our players bonded—not just within their own teams, but with players across the competition, demonstrating the amazing team spirit within hockey. A huge thank you to the organisers for putting on such a brilliant event, and to all the parents for their incredible support throughout the weekend. It was the perfect way to round off a very successful season."