Welcome
to CREASED magazine
Having waited nearly eighteen months to write this message, I am delighted to welcome you all to the first issue of Creased Magazine. A long time in the making, Creased is a passion project dedicated to the sport of lacrosse in the UK and Ireland, shedding light on all aspects of our community from grass-roots to national teams. At nineteen years old, rather late to the game compared to many of my teammates, I first picked up a lacrosse stick at university. Having come from a competitive hockey background I was in the market to try something new, and when my housemates told me they were going to a lacrosse taster session, I decided to join them. I had never heard of the game, however after calling my mum to let her know that I was trying out a new sport she shared the news that her sister, my aunt, had played lacrosse for England back in the 70s and 80s. That’s when I knew that I had to give it a go; after all, it was in my blood! There began my lacrosse
career, where I played for Loughborough University whilst completing my undergraduate degree in English and Publishing, followed by a Masters degree purely so I could stay for an extra year and continue playing lacrosse. An interesting degree choice some might say, but as a magazine enthusiast from a young age and a desire to pursue a career in magazine publishing, for me it was a no brainer. Since then I’ve helped to publish too many magazines to count, from local Kent publications to the weekly HELLO! Magazine, and from The World of Interiors to Cosmopolitan; it never gets old seeing my name in the masthead. Now, I am taking what I’ve learned over the past decade and combining my two loves to bring to market Creased Magazine. I hope you enjoy our bimonthly publication, and I would like to extend my sincerest thanks to all those who have shown an interest in supporting this first issue.
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE LACROSSE FOUNDATION
Formed in 2017, The Lacrosse Foundation (TLF) is a registered charity, independent of all National Governing Bodies, and is dedicated to supporting and growing the game of lacrosse across Great Britain (i.e. England, Scotland & Wales).
Our aim is to promote community participation, assist in the provision of facilities, and advance the education of young people in the sport of lacrosse; with a vision for lacrosse to be accessible to all, and played in every corner of Great Britain.
We provide grants to clubs and other organisations, most commonly for the provision of lacrosse-playing equipment, and to cover costs of coaching. In line with our aims and charitable status, we support youth and grass-roots development, and look to support projects which encourage and enable participation, as opposed to funding any elite level activity.
Since 2017 (to August 2024), TLF has approved a total of 134 grants for a combined value of £445,000. The charity was established following receipt of a generous legacy from a former lacrosse player in the south of England, and as a charity will in future be reliant upon donations, further legacies and fundraising.
Bromley Junior LC
Local coach Mike Barrett is leading a lacrosse revival in the London borough of Bromley through the ‘Bromley School Games Programme’. With support from TLF, Mike has so far introduced the sport into 30 of its 63 primary schools, and set up a ‘Bromley Junior Lacrosse Club’ to provide a progression for youngsters out of school.
Boardman & Eccles LC
Boardman & Eccles is an established lacrosse club based in North-West Manchester, and in 2021 a group of club members drew up a plan to reinvigorate their junior development programme. They approached TLF for funding to cover initial coaching costs and equipment, which would enable lacrosse to be introduced at a number of local primary schools. Through the efforts of this dedicated group of club volunteers, the junior club has enjoyed another strong year of development across the girls’ and boys’ sections.
7
BUCS Lacrosse
A look at the most recent season and our teams to watch for 2024/25.
World Lacrosse News
Shot-clock introduced to international tournaments from 2026: A look at how this will affect the domestic game and the opportunity it presents for young players.
Olympics
With the Paris Olympic Games over, all eyes are now on LA 2028 and journey to reaching the Olympic podium.
Kit and Equipment
Need an upgrade? Shop for the latest clolthing, sticks and lacrosse gear straight from our page.
Grow The Game
Talented player, coach and club founder, Rob Ingham-Clark, shares his blueprint on how to start a successful lacrosse club.
Get involved in lacrosse events this September and October.
Cover Story: Women’s Box World Championship.
Please note:
Information in this publication is as accurate as possible at the time of writing. Over time facts may change, so please bear this in mind when reading this issue. Should you be concerned about any information which may appear misleading or inaccurate and is not so due to time passed, please reach out to us at press@creased.uk to express your thoughts.
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Rob Ingham-Clark, Ian Ballentine & Peter Jessup
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Contributor Requests/Press Releases
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The England women’s senior field squad returned from Portugal with a fourth consecutive European title having put on a textbook performance at the 2024 ELF Championship in July. Team England goalkeepers, Emilie Chandler (left) and Dylan Whittington (right) played a key role in securing the gold, only conceding 28 goals between them in seven games.
BUCS
TEAMS TO WATCH
British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) has delivered sporting excellence across the UK for over 100 years. One of their biggest sports and likely to be a focus for development over the next four years is lacrosse, with over 230 teams competing in the upcoming 2024/25 season. Whilst some institutions have lacrosse programmes that are still very much in development, universities such as Exeter, Durham and Nottingham (UoN) produce some of the best lacrosse players in the nation. These programmes are so good in fact that they attract players from overseas who come to university in the UK to play lacrosse, whilst achieving a degree in the process.
For the past few years, a group of four institutions have dominated the BUCS lacrosse scene: the three aforementioned universities and another Nottingham-based uni, Nottingham Trent (sometimes simply known as, “Trent”).
Since the 2021/22 season, each of the men’s and women’s National Championship finals has seen only these four teams take home either BUCS gold or silver, with the UoN women’s 1st team winning twice and coming second once, and Trent men’s 1st team achieving the same results. These teams should be on anyone’s
radar when following the upcoming season, especially with a host of UoN players including Emma Pearce, Emma Savage and Fiona Roberts, having just returned from a summer of international competition.
Also on our list of squads to watch out for this season is the University of Edinburgh women’s side, boasting four competitive teams whose players are no stranger to international level competition, too. On the men’s side, the once dominant Loughborough University haven’t seen as much success in recent years, however they have nurtured and produced some of the best players currently in the UK including the likes of Luke Mills-Doig, Tobias CleaverRoss and Tomos Rosser, who started playing lacrosse whilst studying at Loughborough and now all represent Great Britain and England, Scotland and Wales respectively. Perhaps this could be the season that they recreate some of the team’s magic moments from the past.
Although not reaching the Championship or Trophy bracket, teams across the UK have risen through the ranks to come away with their own BUCS titles. In the Scottish league Glasgow women’s 2s saw success, beating
Stirling women’s 1st team rather convincingly, and Durham women’s 4s won the Northern Conference Cup for this past season, highlighting just what an incredibly talented programme the university has. Turning to the men’s game, Liverpool men’s 1s took home the Northern Conference Cup title and the men’s South Eastern conference cup went to a London-based university with a small yet growing lacrosse programme, St Mary’s. Both Liverpool and St Mary’s only entered one men’s team into the BUCS league for the 2023/24 season, so we are looking forward to
seeing how winning these titles aids in growing the lacrosse programme at both of these institutions.
Performance and growth for BUCS teams are essential over these upcoming four years as we approach the LA Olympic games. Recruiting lacrosse beginners at university level is a great way to mould the perfect sixes player who might just make it into the 2028 GB squad. However the season pans out, we’ll be sure to closely follow the teams and players as they all strive to take home a BUCS medal.
LACROSSE BUCS CHAMPIONS
WE’VE GOT NEW
RULES...
For a game that dates back centuries, we sure do have a lot of rule changes to contend with. In only eleven years of playing women’s lacrosse, I’ve seen changes to the number of players on the field, pitch marking amendments, defensive rule adjustments, not to mention the ever developing stick and pocket upgrades which always seem to face delays when entering UK rules.
The latest rule change to hit the international game is the introduction of a shot clock at qualifier and world championship level, something that is currently in place at collegiate level in the USA and is also used in Box and Sixes lacrosse. For those unfamiliar, a shot clock gives teams a set amount of time to take a shot on goal once the ball is in their possession, usually 60 or 80 seconds although this varies between men’s and women’s rules. If the shot clock times out before a shot is taken, possession goes to the opposing team.
A shot clock keeps the fastest game on two feet moving swiftly as teams cannot tactically hold possession to prevent their opponents from scoring. Instead, it invites room for creative offensive play to find the perfect moment to fire at goal, and the development of a reactive defensive unit who must either win the ball back, or prevent a shot on goal for the duration of the shot clock.
So how does this affect us mere mortals who don’t play international level lacrosse? Well, once played at the top level it is somewhat likely that local governing bodies will vote to implement these rules at domestic level, too. Playing different nations, Canada, at after throughout This arguably any country doesn’t play with a shot clock
international games against such nations, so the enforcement of this rule at grass-roots level could help future international teams to be more
In response to the announcement that 45 out of 47 World Lacrosse member nations voted in favour of rules to be in line with international rules is appropriate. The first major rule change to be addressed by the new committee is the shot clock implementation, however if enforced this would not come into effect until at least the
...let’s count ‘em
2026/27 season for men, and 2027/28 season for women.
amending the shooting space rule, a shot clock requires a new piece of equipment which will be costly for many clubs, schools and universities. How will these be funded? Will the kit be insured and who picks up the bill? Will clubs receive training on how to use the shot clocks, and will this be offered free of charge? I suppose only time will tell.
England and Ireland are set to make history at the first ever World Lacrosse Women’s Box Championship.
It was only a few years ago that box lacrosse entered my vocabulary. I found the name misleading and somewhat confusing, wondering how lacrosse and boxes could be linked. After asking around I came to understand box as being an “indoor” version of lacrosse, played by men in an arena similar to that of an ice hockey rink - a box. This constrained version of the creators game, which was once played over many days and across hundreds of miles, looks to spectators as being much more physical and intense than field lacrosse. Substitutes happen on the fly, players are battling with the walls of the arena as an extra defender (or simply battling each other), and the goalkeepers are kitted out in so much equipment that we oftentimes can’t see the much smaller 4 feet by 4 feet goal behind them.
In an historic moment for lacrosse, ten women’s teams will compete in Utica, New York to play for the title of the first ever Women’s Box World Champion.
For some lacrosse players, myself included, the jump from field lacrosse to box may seem daunting. With nowhere to hide, box exposes all elements of your game from fitness and agility to stick skills and lacrosse IQ. There’s no denying that box lacrosse will leave you with more bruises and sore bodies than field, so taking part in the sport is not for the faint of heart. But until very recently, female lacrosse
players across the world didn’t have the option to play this version of lacrosse at all. It’s no secret that there is a distinct difference in the opportunities for male and female athletes across the majority of sports. From grass-roots to international level, men’s sports always seem to have first-dibs when it comes to funding and support for competitive events. Just over a century ago, the Football Association (FA) banned women from playing football on FAaffiliated pitches, stating that “the game of football is quite unsuitable for females and ought not to be encouraged”. Completely wild, I know. This meant that the once popular game amongst spectators was now not accessible, leaving only men’s football available to be watched and enjoyed by fans. In spite of being decades behind the men when it comes to the development of international teams, the England Lionesses won the UEFA European Championship in 2021, 100 years after the ban on them playing was put in place. The England men’s team have never won the Euros.
Lacrosse has had somewhat of a different story. Although taking fifteen years for a Women’s World Championship to be introduced after the
inaugural men’s competition in 1967, in the UK and Ireland the disparity between women’s and men’s lacrosse is arguably less evident. Many female-only schools offer the sport as part of their curriculum giving women an early opportunity to compete, and clubs across the UK run junior programs for boys and girls to be introduced to lacrosse. If anything, getting into lacrosse and competing is more accessible to women in the UK than it is to men, making the development to international level much more competitive. There are of course other issues regarding accessibility for both men and women which must be discussed, but I’ll leave that for
another time. In any case, as of 2024 in the senior and U20 field rankings the only nation in the UK & Ireland to rank higher in the men’s game than the women’s is Ireland. With the clear capabilities of women to out-perform their male counterparts at international level, it is curious to consider why it’s taken so long for a Women’s Box Lacrosse World Championship to be created.
The gap between the first Men’s Indoor Championship and the women’s is larger than in field, taking 21 years for World Lacrosse to introduce the game to the women’s market
at international level. Previously needing to join men’s box squads in order to have the opportunity to play, women only box teams are now being created across the UK and Europe as the sport continues to grow, and in 2022 an annual “She-Box” tournament was created to run alongside the men’s E-Box competition which sees teams from across Europe congregate in Prague to play in a fun and competitive event. Tournaments such as She-Box have allowed room for female players to not only play box lacrosse in a training environment, but also to compete in the sport
and has no doubt had a huge impact on the ongoing development of the women’s game.
In an historic moment for lacrosse, ten women’s teams will compete in Utica, New York to play for the title of the first ever Women’s Box World Champion. Countries including the USA, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong and Germany will be fighting it out in the competition which runs concurrently with the more established men’s tournament. Familiar faces are likely to grace the indoor arena, including 2022 Field World Champion, Charlotte North (USA),
bronze medal winning goalkeeper for the same competition, Katie Greenwood (England), and possibly one of the most well-known and powerful female players in the world, Dana Dobbie (Canada). Due to women’s box lacrosse still being in its infancy, as well as being a vastly different discipline to women’s field or Sixes, this tournament will see athletes with a number of international caps already under their belt compete with and against players who have only ever played lacrosse at club level. With preparations for the Olympics in 2028 underway and a summer filled with three other international tournaments, it is no wonder that more current national team field and Sixes players are choosing not to take part in the Indoor World Championships.
Pleasantly this leaves room for new players to take centre stage who are excellent domestic field players but have not had the chance to play at international level. A number of these names are in the squads announced by England Lacrosse and Ireland Lacrosse, and I hope you’ll join me in wishing the teams flying out to the USA the best of luck as they make [her]story this September.
ENGLAND IRELAND
Annabelle Akintoye
Rosie Bathurst
Laura Beaman
Sofia Best
Esme Breach
Leah Catton
Alex Drewe
Davina Emetulu
Lucy Ford
Katie Greenwood
Lauren Hurley
Rosie Jones
Jane Lee
Lauren Lewis
Lucy Mayers
Francesca Parshall
Helena Prettyman
Tabitha Podger
Ellie Racle
Lexi Reynard
Zara Russell
Georgina Rutter
Laura Wright
Aisling Boyd
Orla Buggy
Emily Ann Byrne
Carolanne Canning
Haley Crosson
Tierney Daly
Katie Daynes
Nadine Fadel
Erin Fleming
Bridget Hamlin
Roland Harvey Haugh
Sarah Hontz
Isabel Keane
Alice Loughran
Rebecca Moloney
Laura Reilly
Kiera Rose Roberts
Julia Ruscio
Briar Slattery
Rayna Warnell
THE SPIRIT OF THE SCOTS
Although not competing in the inaugural women’s championship, the Scotland Men’s Box team will be flying out to Utica, New York, in hopes of breaking the top ten. Having not played in two consecutive championships (2011 and 2015), Scotland’s ranking slipped to 16th in 2019.
1411 DAYS 201 WEEKS
46 MONTHS
4 YEARS
Since 1896, once every four years (or three if we find ourselves in a global pandemic) the best athletes in over 30 sports and across more than 200 countries gather together to find out which individual or team is the most talented in their sport. Initially consisting of predominantly individual events, it wasn’t long before team sports such as hockey, basketball, volleyball and rugby sevens began to make appearances at the most prestigious sporting event on the planet: The Olympic Games. After a brief appearance in the early 20th century, lacrosse was removed from the
Olympics and has remained on the outskirts of the games as a mere observer of what could have been for over a century. Now, in just four years our sport will go from a bystander at these 2024 Olympics to centre stage in Los Angeles, California. Our home-grown athletes and coaches will be on television screens across the world, will be talked about in newspaper pages, and will be in with a chance of taking home an Olympic medal. Whilst initially receiving mixed reactions, most of us have now come to terms with the reality that an adapted version of lacrosse will be played at the Olympics in an effort to make the game more consumer-friendly. Sixes lacrosse,
as the name suggests, is played with four fewer people on the field than tens, however that’s not where the differences end. Sixes has its own unique set of rules which have been developed over the past few years and will no doubt see more changes before we reach LA. Overall, Sixes is a much quicker version of lacrosse with less stopping and starting, a smaller field, and no more than four face-off’s (or draw’s if you’re used to women’s rules) per game. It’s unlikely that any of our GB Sixes players will have competed at an Olympics before, and it is also unlikely (although far less so) that they will know any Olympians personally who they can speak to regarding what to expect between now and the opening ceremony. Indeed, some of the members of Team GB who will be competing at the Olympics may have yet to compete at National level, so have an even shorter timeframe to mentally prepare for what is to come. Perhaps going into a spectacle such as this blind is better than over-preparing, but how can we really know what is best for our athletes and what it will take for them to even qualify to play at the Games, let alone win a medal? The qualification process is an element of the Olympic preparation which is far less talked about in a public setting but is a hot topic behind the
scenes, possibly because one thing remains frustratingly unknown: how many countries the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will allow to compete in lacrosse. Whether it be five or fifty countries, GB’s short but positive track record at Sixes events suggests that our teams should easily qualify. But as any sports person will know, even with years of preparation it only takes one 32-minute game to throw away even the most well-thought-out plan, ending a nation’s dream before it even began. With or without a Team GB appearance one thing remains certain: lacrosse will be included in the 2028 LA Olympic Games. Our sport is about to enter the biggest stage there is, to be witnessed by millions upon millions of people, some of whom will be inspired to pick up a stick for the first time and begin playing. Whichever countries qualify and whomever the athletes are who are chosen to perform, their responsibilities far surpass simply winning games. They will be held to the highest of standards, tasked with proving to the world why lacrosse deserves to remain an Olympic sport for Brisbane 2032 and beyond. It’s no mean feat but we’re closer now than we’ve been for over a century, and that is surely something to celebrate.
Safe Jawz Silicone Mouth Guard Case
CLUBS
FINDING YOUR PERFECT MATCH
Finding your perfect match when it comes to club lacrosse isn’t always as easy as playing for the club nearest to you, or picking the one with the best coach, the most number of teams or the highest league success rate. As someone who played for two clubs before landing on the one I’d end up staying at for more than four seasons, I can attest to the importance of shopping around when it comes to picking a team to play with.
Of course, it’s nearly impossible for a club to tick all of your boxes, but a good place to start is to ensure that your welfare needs can be met and you feel safe and supported at the club you choose. Clubs across the UK are required to nominate a welfare officer to serve on their committee and act as a trusted point of contact for players, parents, coaches and officials to speak to about any concerns they may have. Whether or not this nominated person is suitable for the role or not is at the discretion of the club, so players should decide for themselves whether the club environment is a place that they would like to spend their time.
Once you know that your basic needs will be catered for, it’s time to think about what you want out of a lacrosse club. Perhaps you’re looking for a recreational team to play with in a non-competitive environment, only after a weekly runaround with mates and a healthy social scene to match. Some players may be searching for a team who can push them to become better players, or even act as an additional playing outlet in the run-up to National team training and selections. Much like modern day dating, trying out a few clubs before committing to one is the best way to find your perfect match, so head to as many different training sessions as you can before making a decision.
Also like modern day dating, you may commit to a club only to find out that it’s not exactly what you were hoping it would be. You know the type - they proclaim to care about player development and state that safeguarding is their top priority, but consistently fall short on all counts. If you find yourself committed to one of these clubs (and by committed, I mean you’ve paid your membership and have affiliated to the club via your NGB), it’s never too late to break up and begin the search for a club better suited to you.
As lacrosse continues to grow here in the UK, one of the major developments we’re hoping to see is an increased number of clubs in more areas of the UK and Ireland. Currently, those players located in two of England’s major cities, London and Manchester, are spoilt for choice when it comes to finding a competitive lacrosse team to join, but there are areas further afield who have smaller clubs looking to grow.
One of those clubs is Edinburgh Thistle located in Scotland. Thistle LC play in the Lacrosse Scotland league and comprises a competitive women’s side, a junior programme, and a talent pathway for aspiring Scotland national team members. This summer, six Thistle members represented Scotland at under-20 level in the women’s World Championships in Hong Kong, China, with two of the six being named as captains. The club’s success also extends to senior level, with one player representing Scotland at the women’s European Championship, and a further two players acting
as team managers. Although hosting players who make it to this top level, Thistle LC stresses that players of all abilities are invited to join their club and are continuously welcoming beginners, returners, university graduates and juniors to their ranks.
Further down south, a club based in the City of Oxford boasts a men’s side, a women’s side, and a mixed team, all under the name given to them by their location: Oxford City Lacrosse Club. Oxford City is possibly most well known for their mixed team who are the current reigning National Champions. Mixed lacrosse continues to grow in the UK, offering all genders the opportunity to play the women’s rules game together on the same field. The club invites men’s rules players and women’s rules players to join in and compete alongside them both in the mixed league and at more casual tournaments throughout the year; and clubs such as Oxford City are vital in ensuring that grass-roots players have the opportunity to take part in as many forms of lacrosse as possible.
BLUEPRINT THE LACROSSE CLUB
Ever wondered what it might be like to run your own lacrosse club? Perhaps you’ve moved to a new city or town and the nearest club is at least an hour’s drive away, and it would be oh so convenient if there were a club closer by. Rob Ingham Clark had this exact problem, and in 2018 with a little help from some friends, Rob founded one of the most successful lacrosse clubs in London. Here’s exactly how he did it… Get ready to copy and paste.
1
KNOW YOUR WHY
The first element of starting any club is to know your reason for launching. For Rob Ingham Clark and Louis Friedlander, this was to bridge the gap in the North London market, creating a club which was easy for North London-based players to get to and save them having to travel to clubs further afield. Rob and Louis then decided on their club values - a social yet competitive lacrosse club - and agreed on a name that would match their vision: Camden Capybaras.
2
GET THE WORD OUT
After designing a team logo and gathering some lacrosse playing friends, the newly formed Capybaras entered into tournaments and used networks such as English Universities and SEMLA (South England Men’s Lacrosse Association) to aid in player recruitment. SEMLA are also responsible for reviewing club applications for the southern league, and Camden were approved to compete in the 2018/19 season.
3
SORT OUT FUNDING
With independent financial support to hire a pitch for training, the duo contacted the Centurion Lacrosse Club organisation to request funding for a pair of goal nets and ten club pinnies for their new members. The pitch, by Rob’s own description, was terrible, but cheap enough to get Camden Capybaras off the ground. In the summer the newly formed club would offer free training for any lacrosse enthusiasts in Regent’s Park where they used a simple yet effective pop-up goal, and just in time for their first official season, the club secured upgraded pitch space in Kentish Town for 90 minutes of training per week.
STEPS TO STARTING A LACROSSE CLUB
WHY
Why are you starting a lacrosse club?
VALUES
What will your club values be?
INVITE PLAYERS USE NETWORKS
Ask your friends and teammates to train.
UTILISE FUNDING OPTIONS
Speak to organisations who support growing clubs.
NAME
What will your club be called?
& social media
Utilise leagues and NGBs for coverage.
TO A LEAGUE
Contact your local league organisers.
FIND TRAINING FACILITIES
Find whatever you can afford and grow from there.
TRAIN,RECRUIT!PLAY,
Play at tournaments,in parks,arrange friendlies,or just play wherever you can!
GROWTH NEVER STOPS
Insta - @camdenlacrosse
Camden Capybaras Lacrosse Club’s Story...So far
Camden season 1 2018/19
Men’s team won their first game 12-3
11 game winning streak!
20+ players took the field
Won division 2A & won playoff to get promoted!*
Camden season 4 2021/22
Men’s 1s entered the prem division
Men’s 2s came 2nd in div2
Men’s 3s was launched
Women’s team launched with friendlies
Camden season 2 2019/20
Added a 2nd men’s team
Men’s 1s played division 2 and won all their games (promotion number 2)
*NB: all new teams must start from lowest division and work their way up
Camden season 5 2022/23
Women’s team won div3!*
Men’s 1s 4th in prem
Men’s 2s 2nd in div2
Men’s 3s won div3!
5-year anniversary = Thames boat party!
Camden season 3 2020/21
Moved to a new home ground (3G!)
Also moved training ground as more space needed
Men’s 1s finished 2nd in division 1
Men’s 2s finished top with 5 wins out of 5
Camden season 6 2023/24
Decision to start a women’s 2s for 2024/25 season promotion!
Men’s 1s 3rd in prem
Men’s 2s 2nd in div2
Men’s 3s 3rd in div2
Women’s team had an unbeaten regular season!
CENTURION LACROSSE CLUB
Written by Ian Ballentine
70 Years Young
Centurion Lacrosse Club was formed in 1954, by a group of players who were finishing their active playing career but wanted to have an association that maintained its connection with the sport and the friendships made playing together or against and at the same time was there to facilitate support for development of youth lacrosse. These founding principles are exactly the same today as they were 70 years ago.
Over the years small grant funding or loan equipment has been made available to many clubs, organisations and universities, throughout the UK, to support the work of the organisation. Whilst unable to physically assist, these grants and equipment loans have introduced many youth players to the sport and continues to do so. Whilst the focus is on introducing players to the sport it does not stop there as the training of officials and coaches is essential to the infrastructure of growth.
In addition, Centurions have also recognised the hard work of those people who strive to grow the game, by presenting the Centurions Award and Stan Smith Award. In so doing acknowledging the tremendous hard work and efforts both on and off the pitch and past recipients’ names are synonymous with many projects and clubs in the history of the sport.
These days, membership of Centurion Lacrosse Club is open to everyone still playing, stopped playing, officials,
volunteers, supporters and fans of the sport. Our membership boasts a huge depth and amount of skill and experience, including male England players who beat the USA, founding members of clubs, people with experience of international coaching and officiating, toured the States back in 1961, won many accolades, lacrosse equipment suppliers, plus commercial, charity and business expertise.
With a membership exceeding 125, we are looking to grow that number and expand the off the pitch activities, so that we can support more development projects.
One of our tools is a bi-monthly newsletter “The Centurion Courier” updating members on all aspects of the modern game and keeping them in touch with events and developments. Another is to piggyback events, encouraging members to attend, support and socialise, examples of this are: The Tasko Cup in Macclesfield, Bath Eights, North and South Flags, and many more – if you know of a suitable event let me know.
If you would like to join us, or find out more about the club, or apply for one of our grants, please contact me secretary@centurionlacrosse.org.uk and I will be delighted to reply.
Centurions Lacrosse Club is the link between players, that keeps them in touch with the sport and maintains the support for youth development. We look forward to welcoming you should you wish to join us.
7 September
Bath 8s Tournament
Bath, BA2 2PR
The long-standing Bath 8s tournament is back once again this September. This famous 8-a-side event hosts both a men’s and women’s competition which sees teams from schools, universities, and clubs congregate in Bath, South West England, to take part. Mellor LC and Cirencester LC, who won the men’s and women’s tournament last year respectively, will return in hopes of claiming the title once again.
getINVOLVED
14 September
Border City 8s Tournament Cumbria, CA8 1BH
The fourth annual Border City 8s tournament will be taking place on Saturday 14 September. The day consists of one men’s rules tournament and invites teams from all corners of the country to take part in a fun and competitive set of pre-season games. Founded in 2019, Border City is Carlisle’s first lacrosse club and is seeing growth year-on-year, boasting a men’s team, a women’s team and a junior programme.
20 October
BUCS Sixes Championship
Surrey Sports Park, GU2 7AD
Inviting universities from across the UK to compete, BUCS Sixes is being hosted this October at Surrey Sports Park. With a clean sweep for Nottingham-based universities in 2023 (University of Nottingham (UoN) men’s and women’s 1s claimed the Championship titles, and Nottingham Trent men’s 2s and UoN women’s 2s won the Trophies), can they retain their winning streak at the tournament this year?
INVOLVED
14 September
Compton Cup Tournament
London, SW18 3HF
London-based lacrosse club, Spencer, are hosting their annual Compton Cup (formerly Spencer Day) on Saturday 14 September. The club, who currently boast 4 men’s and 3 women’s teams, run the 8-a-side tournament to celebrate the start of each season. It is open to men’s, women’s and mixed sides and lives up to its fun reputation with music, a BBQ, and drinks available throughout the day.
21-22 September
Stockport Sixes Tournament
Stockport, SK3 8HE
Stockport LC’s annual Sixes competition has seen year-on-year growth since its launch in 2021. The northern-based tournament hosts a junior and senior competition run across two days in late September. With many of those junior players likely to be eyeing up a spot at the Olympics, opportunities such as this present a great way for younger players to hone their Sixes skills from an early age.
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The Inaugural People of Colour Lacrosse Match Saw Huge Success
On August 10th of this year, Springwest Academy saw a number of lacrosse players from every discipline of the sport take part in a women’s rules match to raise money for two players from the England Women’s Box World Championship team, Davina Emetulu and Annabelle Akintoye. What’s different about this match? All players and officials were people of colour (POC). This important event organised by player and coach, Qasim Alli, brought together a community of like-minded individuals hoping to create an inclusive place for under-represented lacrosse players to feel safe and seen. Although predominantly for POC, the event also invited non-POC to attend in either a spectator capacity or to take part in “mini-games” before the main match. Feedback from the day has been overwhelmingly positive and has helped Davina and Annabelle on their journey to make history in Utica, New York this September.
National Lacrosse Day Is Back
Organised by England Lacrosse, National Lacrosse Day (NLD) returns this September 14th with the theme “Celebrating Our History”. The annual event provides a way for the lacrosse community to collectively appreciate our sport with events such as the Compton Cup and the Border City 8s Competition both taking place on NLD. England Lacrosse has invited players, fans, and supporters alike to recognise the people in lacrosse who have helped to develop the sport to where it is today.
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POC match team captains and England Box players Annabelle Akintoye (L) and Davina Emetulu (R).
Players and officials who took part in the fundraiser event this past August.
COMING UP...
November/December 2024 Issue
Team Focus: Scotland Women’s U20
Scotland women’s lacrosse have grown in strength since the 2022 Senior World Championships. After a stellar performance from the seniors at this summer’s European Championship where they came home with a bronze medal, we’re taking a look at the U20 women’s programme and the opportunity it presents for Scotland to be real contenders in the next senior World Championships.
Get Involved!
2024 International Tournaments Recap
This year saw an impressive five international competitions, each with their own unique challenges and outcomes. Two back-toback European tournaments both faced eligibility scandals, and at the time of writing, the inaugural Box Lacrosse Women’s Championship is soon to take place which will undoubtedly provide a number of news-worthy moments which we can’t wait to cover.
The Rise of Mixed Lacrosse
Once a social sport played casually at university level, mixed lacrosse is on the rise. Now with its own competitive league, there’s a huge opportunity for mixed lacrosse players to compete across the UK. This discipline of lacrosse has notoriously raised gender inclusion issues, so we’ll be exploring this and all aspects of mixed lacrosse and its future here in the UK and Ireland.
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