I’m sure some of you have been wondering why the blog has been so quiet since the end of the Commonwealth Games. Usually, as we count down to the start of the domestic season I’d be doing interviews, features and previews ahead of the curtain-raiser on 13 September. Continue reading
Cannock’s David Beckett held his nerve to fire home the winning penalty in the shootout to give Cannock the cup for the first time since 2007 after a dramatic final against Brooklands MU.The two sides played out a 2-2 draw over the 70 minutes with goals from Beckett and Ben Edge cancelled out by strikes from Peter Cornell and David Flanagan but it was Cannock who took the honours when Aidan Khares put his effort over the bar, allowing Beckett the chance to seal the win, 5-4 on penalties. Continue reading
Unquestionably there are great personal costs associated with reaching the top of your chosen sport; however, how many of you have considered the monetary costs of success? Reading Hockey Club is being given no choice but to face up to the financial realities of being a winning side: They have an unprecedented four European trips this season to compete in the Euro Hockey League, twice (Men), the EuroHockey Club Champions Cup (Women) and the EuroHockey Indoor Club Champions Trophy (Women). This level of success adds up to a combined bill of somewhere close to £30,000. Continue reading
Despite the change from six to five-a-side in the indoor game, some things stay the same. East Grinstead find themselves top of the pile in the race to Wembley. Reading and Bowdon are not far off the pace and with just five points separating Canterbury in fourth and Doncaster who are bottom, there is still much to play for over the second weekend of the Maxinutrition Hockey 5s. Here, The Top of the D gives the lowdown on some of the players to keep an eye out for: Continue reading
The second weekend of the Women’s Maxinutrition Hockey 5s is just days away as the crème de la crème of England’s domestic teams return to Bromsgrove to find out which teams will advance to the semi finals. After the first weekend in December, Slough sit proudly top of the table after an unbeaten first two days. Bowdon Hightown and Reading are in hot pursuit, whilst Canterbury occupy the final qualification place. Indoor is an unpredictable game, however, so there are still likely to be plenty of twists and turns before all is said and done. The Top of the D gives you the lowdown on some of the players to look out for this coming weekend:
Christmas is the time of peace on Earth and good will to all men, women and children. It’s also a good time to get your grubby mitts on some new hockey stash. Everyone loves a bit of new hockey stash. So, from now until the 23rd of December, Uber Hockey has kindly offered to team up with The Top of the D to give away a prize a day as part of their yearly competition “The 12 Days of Uber.” Continue reading
One of things The Top of the D has always loved about hockey is how welcomed and included I’ve always felt at every club I’ve been to. In contrast to many other sports, the notion of the hockey family seems to be one that is real and provides enjoyment for many people all over the country. With that in mind, the work done by Pani Theodorou of Waltham Forest HC to promote disability hockey, is a vital part of the all-inclusive nature of the Hockey Family. Her efforts are really quite impressive, too. The Top of the D finds out a bit more: Continue reading
It is fair to say The Top of the D is quite keen on hockey. If I could, I’d watch or play the game every day. I’m also pretty keen on people doing things for a good cause and helping others. Imagine if both could be combined somehow. That’d be fantastic, wouldn’t it? Well, as it happens, the Hockey for Heroes Tour fits just that bill. Continue reading
Goalkeeper Sarah Ellis was the star of the show with four saves in the penalty shootout as Reading avenged their defeat to Leicester in last year’s final to take home the trophy here at Sonning Lane. Continue reading
Two goals from Jade Mayne and the winner from Sarah Kerly ensured Canterbury bounced back from yesterday’s defeat to secure third place with a hard-earned 3-2 win over Surbiton. Continue reading
