As we look ahead to another exciting season, we wanted to take the opportunity to reflect on an outstanding year of progress, growth and achievement for our junior section — and to share our excitement about what comes next.

Last season saw our junior programme achieve success at county, regional, national and international level, while providing more opportunities than ever before for young players to enjoy, develop and excel in hockey.

Our U12 Girls produced a fantastic performance at the Holland Elite Cup, returning home with a bronze medal after competing against high-quality international opposition at a world class venue. At national level, two of our U16 Girls teams proudly represented the club at the Junior National Finals Day in Nottingham, while our juniors also enjoyed significant success in national indoor competitions across both England Hockey and Indoor Hockey UK, with our U18 Girls crowned EH National Champions. We were also the most successful club at the Indoor Hockey UK Championships in December

Our U10 and U12 teams achieved further success at regional level, and we were immensely proud to finish as the most successful club overall at the county competitions.

We also celebrated the individual achievements of multiple juniors who represented England at age-group level. Seeing young players progress through our programme to compete on the international stage is a fantastic achievement for the players, their families and the coaches who have supported their journey.

Growing Our Game

Alongside our competitive achievements, participation across our junior section has continued to grow.

For the first time, we introduced an U6 age group, giving even younger children the opportunity to pick up a hockey stick, learn new skills, make friends and discover a love for the sport.

Our hugely popular summer programme attracted more young players than ever before, while a major expansion of our indoor programme resulted in record levels of participation and contributed significantly to our success on the national stage. Overall junior membership also continued to grow.

Our commitment to growing the game extends beyond the club. We continue to work closely with local schools, introducing more children to hockey and giving them the opportunity to experience the sport, often for the very first time. We hope these experiences inspire even more young people to pick up a stick and discover everything hockey has to offer.

For us, this growth is every bit as important as our competitive achievements. Some of our proudest moments come from seeing children arrive as complete beginners and go on to develop confidence, friendships and a genuine love for hockey. 

Outstanding Coaching and Player Development

At the heart of our junior programme is an outstanding coaching team.

Our coaches combine youth, innovation and fresh thinking with a wealth of knowledge and experience from across the game. We firmly believe we have assembled one of the strongest and most exciting junior coaching teams in the country - I, for one, am very excited to be coaching our juniors with the team next season.

From introducing children to hockey for the first time through to supporting ambitious players striving to compete at regional, national and international level, our coaches are committed to helping every young person develop, progress and, most importantly, enjoy their hockey.

We continue to invest in player development through high-quality coaching, structured development opportunities and regular video analysis, helping our juniors better understand the game and supporting their individual progression.

Our performance programmes, including Ministars and Talent Development Academy, provide ambitious players from both within and outside the club with opportunities to be challenged, stretched and supported in fulfilling their potential.

Hockey is for Everyone

While we are immensely proud of our medals, trophies and representative honours, competitive success is only one part of what makes our junior section special.

We firmly believe that hockey is a sport for everyone.

Our aim is to provide opportunities for children and young people of all ages, abilities and aspirations to enjoy the game in an environment where they feel welcome, supported and valued.

Whether a child is picking up a hockey stick for the very first time, looking to play with friends, develop new skills, build confidence or pursue performance hockey, we are proud to offer a programme that caters for every stage of their journey.

We are equally passionate about introducing new people to the sport. Throughout the year we continue to work closely with local schools and recently attended a free community event, giving young children and their families the opportunity to experience hockey for the first time. Inspiring the next generation of players and making hockey accessible to everyone remains one of our core ambitions.

We are incredibly proud of the inclusive, welcoming and supportive environment we have created, where every young person can enjoy their hockey, make lifelong friendships and develop at a pace that is right for them.

Every player's journey is different, and every journey matters.

One Club, One Community

We also want our juniors and their families to feel connected to the wider club.

Our popular mascot programme has given young players the opportunity to be inspired by our Premier League players, experience senior match-days and see first-hand the pathway available to them.

Our well-attended social events have further strengthened this connection, bringing junior players, parents, coaches, senior players and families together and helping to create the strong sense of community that makes our club such a special place to be. 

The introduction of padel at our wider sports club has brought even more people, activity and energy to the site. Combined with our growing hockey programme and thriving social calendar, we believe the atmosphere and sense of community around the club is the strongest it has been for many years.

None of our achievements would be possible without the dedication of our coaches and volunteers, the enthusiasm of our players and the continued support of parents and families. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who contributes to making our junior section the thriving community it is today.

Looking To The Future

 As our junior section continues to grow, so does our ambition. Behind the scenes, we are working on a number of exciting long-term plans designed to build on our progress and create even more opportunities for our players and families.

We will continue to strengthen our coaching team by bringing new coaches into the club who share our passion, drive and commitment to excellence. We have exceptionally high standards and remain committed to recruiting coaches who share our philosophy and can make a genuine difference to the development and experience of our young players.

Our plans also include a newly resurfaced hockey pitch, further expansion of our Ministars and TDA programmes and more opportunities for our juniors to experience hockey overseas, including future tours to destinations such as Spain and Holland.

We are also developing a dedicated and inclusive social team to create an even wider programme of activities and events for players, parents and families.

For our ambitious performance players, we will continue to provide a challenging environment in which they can strive to fulfil their potential.

We are incredibly proud to offer what we believe is one of the strongest adult hockey pathways in the country, providing ambitious juniors with the opportunity to progress towards National League and Premier League hockey.

Our young players can train, develop and grow within a club where they are inspired by players competing at the highest levels of the domestic game and can see a genuine pathway from junior hockey through to elite senior competition. 

At the same time, our commitment to being a club for everyone will never change. We will continue to welcome complete beginners, players who simply want to enjoy hockey with their friends, those who want to challenge themselves and improve, and those with ambitions to compete at the very highest level.

The Future is Exciting

We are immensely proud of what our junior section has achieved, but we believe this is only the beginning.

We have ambitious plans, an outstanding and growing coaching team, a thriving junior membership and a clear vision for the future.

Most importantly, we have a community of players, parents, coaches and volunteers who share our passion for hockey and our ambition to make our club an exceptional place for young people to play, develop, belong and thrive.

Whether you are already part of our club, considering returning to hockey or looking for the right environment for your child to begin or continue their hockey journey, we would be delighted to welcome you.

The future of our junior section is incredibly exciting, and we look forward to sharing the journey with you.

Interested in finding out more?

Email: mike.lewis@eghockey.co.uk and I’d be happy to answer any questions you might have! No waiting list, only an amazing hockey experience for everyone!

See you for the 2026/27 season!

Michael Lewis

Head of Junior Hockey