Hockey

Hockey has returned for its first full season in two years, and what a busy and successful season it has been. The Year 6 pupils got their first taste of this great sport, starting their training in September and making the weekly trip down to Barnes HC every Friday. They had a great season with the highlight surely beating Alleyn’s Year 7s in three fantastic matches.

Also, in the Autumn term the U14 an U16 squads were entered into the London County tournament, with both getting through to the final after a nerve-wracking semi-final decided on penalty flicks. The U14s took on Godolphin and Latymer and, despite having the majority of the possession, were unfortunate to lose 1-0, securing the silver medal but just missing out on qualifying for nationals. The U16s took on St Benedict under lights on a Friday in January and unfortunately the lack of preparation caught us out, losing 2-0 in a great game, again securing silver medals.

The season then began for the rest of the school, and we kicked off in style with all teams ready to take on Tormead in the first Saturday block. Unfortunately the frost got the better of some matches (a common theme as the season progressed) but the U14s and U15s did manage to get their games in, and both secured the first wins of the season.

There have been some excellent performances from all year groups, including the U12A’s thrilling 7-5 victory against Surbiton High, the first team beating Ibstock under lights, while the U15s played a great game at the Olympic hockey park and the U11 A and Bs qualifed for the county finals.

What has been extremely impressive is the number of pupils involved in hockey this year, with over 80 Year 7s playing one Saturday morning. The strength of the B, C and D teams has been impressive, and the future of hockey at Emanuel is looking bright. Well done to everyone involved!

Miss F Low (Director of Hockey)

1st XI Captain Report

This was my sixth year of playing hockey at Emanuel. Over that time the number of teams, fixtures and resources the school has committed to the sport have grown exponentially, as has my love of the game. Our senior squad consists of students from Years 11, 12 and 13, which has without question allowed the team to benefit greatly from different personalities, experiences, and knowledge of the game, all which have given our team its unique quality.

The season we missed because of Covid meant that our stick sills were slightly rusty to begin with, but after a few brushed-off cobwebs, evening trainings and tired morning games, we started to see an improvement.This was not based on skill alone; the sheer number of players meant that the camaraderie was exceptional, and we soon came together as a team.

Whilst the whole squad contributed to the team’s success, a few players deserve special mention. Rosie (U6SPP) has been my right-hand woman and really embodied the element of team spirit. Ella (L6SKH) and Georgia (L6CDK), who both came through to represent their year at every training session and fixture, were exemplary. I also feel obliged to give a fair warning to whoever is on the receiving end of Lucy (11DGA)’s “passes” next year; I really do wish you the very best of luck! Lastly, the 10 players on the field could always play with great confidence knowing that the last line of defence was in the exceptional hands, feet and stick of Lily (11CMB).

We had our fair share of losses to begin with, but having such a large and enthusiastic squad allowed for each low to be shared and ultimately made us stronger. This also meant that we had collective highs and it’s clear that, when we got a taste for victory, there was no stopping us, going from zero goals in earlier matches to winning our last three games consecutively. By the end of the season, it really was one celebration after another.

The Friday Night Lights Game against Ibstock had significant support, for which we were very grateful, and our win really cemented that match as a highlight for many of us. This annual game was very memorable for all the Year 13s who have played in it for the past three years, and I have complete confidence that we will be leaving next year’s squad in good hands.

I wish all the squad the very best and hope that hockey remains an enjoyable and fulfilling part of their lives in the future, both at Emanuel and beyond.