As hockey makes its triumphant return to pitches up and down the country it’s comforting to feel like there might be a sense of normality returning very soon.

Despite the enthusiasm with which people have resumed playing, for many of us a “lack of match sharpness” is very clear to see right now. Players who before lockdown had a first touch you could bet your house on, look like they’ve never even picked up a stick right now. The main thing getting a workout during most shooting drills is the back fence, not the goalkeepers.

“When I looked at that medal on the podium I thought back to being a little girl. To when I thought that this wasn’t for me. This was something that happened to other people. It was a little nod to that girl to say, “You did it.” All the difficult moments, the bullying at school, the doubting yourself, having no confidence, you came out of that, now you’re standing here, on top of the world.”

As you’ll no doubt have seen if you’re a regular visitor to the site or to my social media channels, this year I have been lucky enough to begin a partnership with Mercian Hockey. I’ve been using the kit for a little while now, so thought it’d be a good time to put up a review and let people know my thoughts on it so far. Continue reading →