NEWSLETTER Saturday 14th may 2016 SPECIAL EDITION! Marden Russets U14 Boys Win Bronze Medal and Remain Unbeaten at National Hockey Finals! Wow, what a fantastic day for Marden Russets! The U14 Boys travelled to the Lee Valley Hockey Centre at the Olympic Park to compete against the other top seven teams in the country at the England Hockey National Finals. Having won the Kent County and Eastern Regional stages, the squad had already proved how strong they were, but the National Finals were always expected to be a different level of competition. No Marden team had ever reached a national final before and so it was very much unchartered territory for the boys and their coaches. 19 boys (including an unlucky team member who broke his arm at cricket practice the week before and was unable to play but bravely came along to join in on the day) all played their part in a professionallyrun tournament that none of them will ever forget. The support from the Marden Farmy Army was amazing, and the boys were cheered on by a huge crowd of family, friends and adult Club members, many sporting their golden Russets shirts from various generations. All were richly entertained in a spectacular setting.
The competition was divided into two pools of four teams and all clubs played against the three others in their group, followed by a final match against their opposite numbers in the second league. The Marden boys started strongly with a 2-0 win against Harrogate, and then faced a gruelling end-to-end battle against Cheltenham, who had also won their first match: despite chances for both teams, the game ended 0-0, leaving Marden top of the league by one goal and everything to play for in the final match. Marden came out fighting against Peterborough but went a goal down and had to work really hard to come out 2-1 winners. How heart-breaking for the team to find out that Cheltenham had run out 3-0 winners on the other pitch (scoring a second half hat trick after being 0-0 at half time) and would go through to the final by one goal on goal difference. The boys were devastated, particularly as they were unbeaten this competition offered no second chances as there were no semi-finals: first placed in each league played for the top prize and second battled it out for the bronze medal. After many consoling hugs and kind words from their supporters and an uplifting team talk from the coaches, the squad showed immense courage and determination to pick themselves up for the bronze medal play-off. The boys dug deep and channelled their frustrations into their hockey, showing tremendous fitness, agility and skill as they ran out 3-0 winners against Bath Buccaneers. It was amazing to see them showcase some of their best play after nearly two hours of hockey and they ended on a real high, receiving their bronze medals to resounding applause in a formal ceremony on the pitch in the Olympic Park. Interestingly, all four teams in Marden s league came out winners against their opposite numbers including their old adversaries Cheltenham who won a closely-contested final against Surbiton, suggesting that they had a tough draw from the start.
The boys really felt like hockey celebrities and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the day from receiving their official security stamps on their wrists to hearing their names called out over the loud speakers and listening to the music booming out when penalty corners were awarded. Coach Charlie Ridge said: This was a massive day for the boys, all of whom showed huge heart and team spirit to get their deserved success. They may feel slightly unlucky not to have gone one further and reached the final, but can look back on a season of played 19, won 17, drawn 1 and lost only 1 (on penalty flicks!), including drawing with the national champions. After an amazing season, the coaching team and the entire Club, are so very proud of the full squad, and look forward to seeing their success continue as they move up to U16s in September. They have really put Marden on the England Hockey map!
Kit Sponsors John Sankey and Westerhill Homes Thanks once again to our generous sponsors: John Sankey, a family-run business that prides itself on hand making exquisite, characterful furniture which can be found locally in Hoopers in Tunbridge Wells and Woodcocks in Tenterden; and Westerhill Homes, who make quality, individually designed homes. John Sankey kindly paid for the boys entire kit for the nationals: shorts, hoodies, home and away socks and shirts. Westerhill Homes funded the coaches jackets. The kit is of extremely high quality and Marden were the smartest dressed team at the Olympic Stadium last Saturday. We are all so grateful to both companies for making this possible. http://www.johnsankey.co.uk http://www.westerhillhomes.co.uk
Marden U14 and U18 Boys Win Mercian League Trophies Yet more successes were celebrated on Saturday. The U18 Boys squad had some fine wins during the season, the highlight of which was a 7-1 win against the much fancied Southgate. They also claimed the Mercian Kent League, and after the U14 National Finals, the Mercian county trophy was presented to their Coach, Paul Sunnucks. The U14 Boys also won their Mercian age group county competition (look at that goal difference below!). The trophy was presented to Wilf Rutter on behalf of the U14 Boys team; Wilf had played in all six Mercian matches, and was due to play in the National Finals - unluckily he broke his arm the week before but bravely came along on Saturday to support his team mates. Wilf Rutter being presented with the U14 Boys Mercian county trophy stick Paul Sunnucks holding the Mercian mini stick county trophy on behalf of the U18 Boys Next Season Starts Sunday 3 rd or 10 th September (to be announced) Enjoy the summer!