Regular readers of these pages will know that The Top of the D loves a good goalkeeper. Well, there are few better than Rachael Lynch. A Commonwealth Games gold medallist and Australian international, the 25-year-old Victorian has impressed all over the world since making her international debut at the 2006 Champions Trophy. The Top of the D fired some questions at her:

The Top of the D: What made you decide to start playing in goal?

Rachael Lynch: When I was 12 I tried out for the state team as both a goalkeeper and an outfield player. Continue reading →

The Top of the D has already outlined the delicate balancing act performed by teams with a large number of GB internationals in this article. Reading Ladies find themselves in a similar position, boasting as they do seven Great Britain players. This doesn’t seem to have hindered them too much in their pursuit of domestic honours, however: With Becky Halle, Liana Smith and Wiz Hunt coming in and supplying the goals and Chantal De Bruijn supplying the experience there is plenty of strength in depth at Sonning Lane. Their second choice ‘keeper isn’t too shabby either. Continue reading →

For most people involved with a hockey club, things just happen. Often, players will not give much thought to anything outside of their role on the pitch and what the coach has asked them to do. In many ways, that is how it should be. But how does it all fall into place? Continue reading →

Recently The Top of the D paid a visit to Reading Hockey Club. Whilst there, I was lucky enough to catch up with Reading and Great Britain Forward Alex Danson. As many of you will know, Danson is one of the standout players for club and country and was selected for the 2011 FIH All Star team. You wouldn’t know it to talk to her, though: she is humble, friendly and down to earth. Here’s what she had to say about her team-mates, her club, signing autographs and about how much she loves hockey. Continue reading →

You know, whenever I tell someone I play hockey, their response is always one of a choice of three:

1.) “Hockey? That’s a girl’s game, isn’t it?

2.) “Why? Weren’t you good enough at football or rugby?”

3.) “I used to hate hockey at school. Always cold, on the grass, people hitting your shins. I hated it.”

For some reason, during my younger days, these responses used to wind me up. I’m not sure why, call it the petulance of youth. As I’ve got older, I actually find myself laughing at these and thinking how much these people have missed out. Continue reading →