Talent Academy Programme 2025

CUP ACADEMY TALENT

FRIDAY 25 JULY

SATURDAY 26 JULY

SUNDAY 27 JULY

NOTTINGHAM HOCKEY CENTRE & THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM

WELCOME

Nottingham’s outstanding hockey facilities make it the perfect venue for this year’s Talent Academy Cup. Over the next three days, 864 players across 48 teams will go head-to-head, supported by nearly 150 dedicated coaches and team managers.

Success in tournament hockey is shaped by many factors – thorough preparation, thoughtful analysis, and effective recovery all play a part. We’ve listened to feedback and made key changes to enhance the Talent Academy competition. This year, the Cup pools have been structured based on rankings from the Conference pool games, which we hope will lead to closer, more competitive matches.

It’s important to remember that this event is first and foremost a talent development competition. Of course, players and coaches are here to win – but how they compete, how they respond to both success and setbacks, and the courage they show in trying new things matters even more.

To everyone supporting from the sidelines, we urge you to encourage and celebrate every player’s effort on the pitch. Please allow them the space to make their own decisions during games without distraction from the stands. Likewise, our young umpires – just like the players – are developing their skills and may occasionally make mistakes. Please show them the same support and understanding.

An event of this scale wouldn’t be possible without the incredible work

behind the scenes. My heartfelt thanks go to Nottingham Hockey Centre, the University of Nottingham, and the team at England Hockey for their collaborative efforts in bringing the event back to this brilliant venue. We are especially grateful to our amazing Hockey Makers, whose time and energy make events like this possible.

This Talent Academy Cup marks the end of the third year of the Talent Academy programme and the conclusion of the first three-year licensing cycle. Following a recent tender process, I’m delighted to confirm that from September 2025, we will have 23 club-based Talent Academies in place, with England Hockey continuing to lead one in the North West. The progress of both players and environments over the last three years has been hugely encouraging. Whether you are a coach, welfare officer, committee member, or a parent supporting from the side-lines – thank you for your continued dedication and hard work.

Whatever your role at this year’s Talent Academy Cup, I hope you have a fantastic time. Enjoy and celebrate what promises to be a spectacular showcase of junior hockey. And please, share your experience of the Cup—and the opportunities to get involved in hockey in your local area—so together we can help make our sport more visible and accessible to even more young people.

HeatHer Williams GB Hockey Head of Elite Talent Development

Hockey at the University of Nottingham

Home of the 2024/25 Men’s and Women’s BUCS (British Universities & Colleges Sport) National Champions

• Excellent facilities including a dedicated international-standard water-based pitch at Nottingham Hockey Centre

• University of Nottingham squads compete in the England Hockey League top divisions alongside BUCS competitions

• Top class strength & conditioning, nutrition, and specialist physiotherapy provision

• & much more

Find out more

Men’s Hockey at Nottingham Women’s Hockey at Nottingham

OFFICIALS & UMPIRES

TECHNICAL DELEGATE

Colin Crayford, Tom roBErTS (ASST)

EVENT TEAM

Jo THoMaS-ELLIS

Vicki SadLEr

FIELD OF PLAY MANAGER

Russell davEnporT

TECHNICAL OFFICIALS

Jacqui BarLow, Keith Boddy, Dave CoopEr, Luke dawkIn, Nick HaynES, Richard HILL, Craig LangTon, Martin MCInuLTy,

Peter MCInuLTy, Oscar nEwTon, Jane rICkEy, Dawn TuCkEr, Nick woodward, Mike TaLBoT, James parr

TALENT TEAM

Dieter Hill

UMPIRE MANAGER

Simon gILLET

UMPIRE SUPPORT

Viv CarvETH, Nikki BuTCHEr, Nku davIS, Mason wrIgHT, William davEy, Andy HIggInS, Grant dougLaS, Gary STEnT, Jackie gIBBS, Gemma JonES

UMPIRES

AJ SMaLL, Alexander van dEr STraETEn,

Amellie CLarE, Ashleigh vauSE, Bob Jordan,

Chris o’Hagan, Chris young, David MongEr, Eric dICkInSon, Evie HaLSaLL, Ffion LLEwELLyn, Freya CoopEr, Harry BragInTon, Harry raffan, Jack TovEy, Jake SHELLEy, Jessica SMITH, Kirsty dyMond, Lexi roCkaLL, Liam SuTTon, Lucas HEndErSon, Max davIdSon, Mia dEwIng, Millie ELy, Moli SMITH, Muiris TELford, Nathan rIdSdaLE, Noah SCHoLLICk, Oliver pouLTon, Phil o’Hagan, Summer HayLoCk, Thomas STonEr, Tom STovES, Will HoLMES, William SIMMonS, Willoughby CookE

2025 ta Cup university exHibition

We are excited to welcome the following universities to the 2025 TA Cup University Exhibition, which will be held at the Nottingham Hockey Centre between 25-27 July.

This exhibition provides an ideal platform for universities to engage with potential student-athletes and showcase their programs, facilities, and opportunities.

Pitch 7 is located at the University of Nottingham

A Fin A l Worth r emembering –g r A b Your oFF ici A l Printed Progr A mme!

Out of all the teams across the country, you’re one of the few who made it this far – so first things first, congratulations!

To mark the occasion, England Hockey provides a free digital programme for every final –available to download, keep, and print from: www.englandhockey.co.uk/competitions-and-events/programmes

But let’s Be honest… some moments deserve more than a PdF.

That’s why we’ve teamed up with passionate print partners to give you the chance to own a professionally printed, high-quality A5 colour souvenir programme – something special to keep in your memory box for years to come.

A keepsake you’ll treasure, not just a programme. It’s a little piece of history.

YOUR HARD COPY PROGRAMME HERE (address is case sensitive):

16–28 pages: £9.99 • Over 28 pages: £14.99. add results for £5.00. P&P £2.95 per order. This process will be managed by our programme partners JMS Creative and invoices will come directly from them.

Free inputting of results (optional)

Free photo page - send us your chosen photos and we’ll replace this page in your printed programme with a montage of memories from your Big day! (Optional. Page will be placed next to the match schedule for your age group).