Archie Hurst reviews the Second XI's stunning, treble-winning football season.
EDITORS' NOTE
From footballing cup runs to professional debuts, Hampton Sports Chronicle continues to document the very best of Hampton sport.
HSC has a rich history, telling the stories of Hampton sporting success since well before we were born. From reporting on the international success of England cricketer Zafar Ansari OH(2010) to the heroic comebacks of the U12C rugby team, the magazine continues to celebrate the spirit of Hampton sport.
As we mark yet another year since its inception, over 20 years ago, we looked back over some previous issues’ Editors' Notes, for some inspiration of course, but also out of intrigue. We noticed that most started in the same vein, with something along the lines of ‘this year has been an amazing year for Hampton sport’ or ‘the best year yet’. Surely it can’t keep getting better, it can’t go on like this…
Eddie Haycock interviews Mr Claramunt about his running exploits and completion of the World Marathon Majors.
Naavya Sharma OH (2024) discusses his journey to professional cricket and reflects upon the psychology of the game.
Alex Watson sits down with Mr Crook to learn about his experience and success in the emerging sport of flag football.
Patrick Moroney relives the controversy of the 1987 Boat Race with rowing coach Mr Ward.
Well it can. Treble winners, Premier League debuts, international call-ups, Olympic dreams, world majors conquered, and much more. The 2024-25 issue is bursting with all the highlights from the year. Read about the Second XI’s extraordinary treble-winning campaign under the guidance of Hampton’s own ‘special one’, Mr Leafe, or perhaps turn to page 10 and learn about the success of former Hampton cricket captain Naavya Sharma OH (2024) as he turns professional.
Equally, explore the endeavours of members of the Hampton School Common Room: Mr Claramunt discusses his international marathon exploits as he completed the ‘big six’ of marathons, dubbed the World Majors; or learn about the fascinating and rapidly growing sport of flag football from Mr Crook. Hopefully this edition will capture your interest and imagination like it has over the previous 20 years.
As we reflect on yet another superb year of sport, it's important to end with heartfelt thanks. Firstly, sincere thanks to Dr Colvine for her tireless support and dedication to both the magazine and the website. Thank you also to Mr Baker for his unwavering guidance and encouragement throughout the year. And finally, thank you to all our writers; your enthusiasm, commitment and creativity are what truly brings HSC to life!
JAMES EGGLETON and ARCHIE HURST
HSC writers, 2024-25:
Arun Crowe
Oliver Dugaric
Eddie Haycock
Patrick Moroney
Harry Morris
Leo Nishida
Theo Payne
Ben Robinson
Ollie Scrimshaw
Tom Scrimshaw
William Squire
Ollie Swetman
Alex Watson
STAR SHARMA
From the coveted turf of Hanworth Road to the hallowed pitch of Lord's Cricket Ground, the prolific rise of Naavya Sharma OH (2024) to professional cricket is one built upon mental resilience and fortitude. Read more about his journey on page 10.
THE UNRIVALLED SUCCESS OF THE SECOND XI
A season of unparalleled success saw Hampton’s Second XI win three competitions, including the crown jewel of schoolboys’ football, the ESFA National Cup. HSC co-editor Archie Hurst recounts the events of an unprecedented year.
It was undoubtedly a once in a generation season, with a true sense of ambition, team mentality and “twogetherness”, ultimately guiding the team to the treble. But where did it all start? How did the team that beat Ayelstone Park, on that fateful day of pre-season, blossom into the attacking powerhouse that saw them crowned ESFA (English Schools' Football Association) Champions?
September brought a new year and new hope, with early wins over Glyn and Bede’s sparking life into the engine that was the Second XI.
This also saw the phrase “twogether” brought to life by Manager Mr Leafe, highlighting the Second XI’s togetherness and unity as a team, ultimately becoming one of the core values of their success.
Hampton kicked off their Elgin League campaign with a strong 5-1 win against Ibstock Place School. The structure of the competition was such: teams separated into two leagues, with the team that finishes first in one league
playing the team that finishes second in the other, and vice versa.
Two consecutive – unfortunate – losses to Gordon’s School and Bradfield College gave the team a friendly reminder not to succumb to complacency. City of London School away in the Elgin League saw a nice leap in progress as the team confidently saw off the opposition in a 4-0 win.
A blistering 10-1 win over Reading School saw Hampton move into round three of their ESFA campaign, and two more wins against Latymer School and Highgate School in the Elgin League saw further progress.
ESFA round three brought The Windsor Boys' School, resulting in another staggering win of 12-0 for the Second XI. This, however, unveiled a new challenge. The round four draw saw Hampton travel away to Millfield.
The previous year had seen the Second XI fall short of ESFA glory, as they were beaten by
Millfield in the semi-final. This round four draw was to be a true test of Hampton’s courage and ability.
The coach left early that morning, the squad buzzing with anticipation and steely determination for what was to come. The tactics were laid out before the game; the team knew the plan.
At half-time, the score, 0-0. Neither team were budging; however it was Hampton that had the edge over Millfield, stunning them with their speed and precision both in attack and defence.
Free kick given. The ball was swung in from centreback Louis Basing, a flick on from Ben Wallace falling to Vice-Captain Gabriel Fouché, who squared the ball across the box, hoping for someone to tap it in… and it was Alex Ashton, who, in a rather unbothered manner, calmly slotted the ball past the goalkeeper and into the net.
Nothing could stop Hampton, who, after two more goals from Basing and Fouché respectively, saw out the game to progress into the quarter-final of their ESFA campaign.
This, as defined by Mr Leafe in his infamous end of season poem, was when the feeling in the group shifted: they realised what they – twogether – were truly capable of. The momentum began and they never looked back.
An incredible goal from Rohan Kripalani at the death against Bede’s School saw out a spectacular 5-4 comeback as the Second XI emerged victorious in the London Independent Schools Cup round of 16, progressing the team to the quarter-finals.
A week later saw Hampton host Regis School in the ESFA quarter-final. As asserted by Mr Knibbs in assembly, although the comparison to Arsenal seemed a bit far-fetched, “with blistering pace and attacking flair football – such has become the style of Mr Leafe’s side”, the Second XI saw off their opponent with a 3-0 win – with all three goals coming in the opening 22 minutes.
A pair of friendly wins against ACS International School Cobham and St John’s Leatherhead kept that all-important momentum going before they faced Dulwich College in the quarter-final of the London
This again brought out the best of the team, as they progressed with an 8-0 win to the semi-finals.
A familiar face greeted Hampton in the semi-final of the Elgin League in the form of Whitgift, a strong opponent that the team had drawn 3-3 with earlier in
A physically tough and mentally challenging game saw great competition between the two sides, with who else than Basing making the difference, as he scored both his and Mr Leafe’s favourite type of goal – a commanding header from a set piece. This saw Hampton progress with a 3-2 win to their first final of the season, with the draw seeing them meet another familiar face in the final…Brentwood School.
Then, it was time. Hampton hosted Bede’s School in the ESFA Cup semi-final. The sun was shining and a roar erupted from the team huddle as Hampton
A slower start than usual saw the game all square for the first 20 minutes…and then Vice-Captain Fouché, with a lovely little move to beat the defender, drilled the ball past the keeper to scorch the back of the net.
Five minutes later it was Ollie Spray who increased Hampton’s lead, connecting nicely with a looping ball into the box from Sam Moylan-Jones. Hampton went into the break with a 2-0 lead.
At half-time, the team were reminded that a 2-0 lead can be one of the most dangerous in football, and that warning nearly came to fruition early in the second half. Bede’s came close to halving the deficit, rattling the crossbar from close range after a wonderful fingertip save by Theo Lloyd. It was, however, meant to be for the Second XI, and a final goal from Oliver Lacey secured their place in the ESFA Final. As the celebrations, as well as preparations, kicked into gear, the team looked forward to meeting Northampton School for Boys in the ultimatum of the season.
Preceding the Elgin Final, the Second XI met St Paul’s First XI in a friendly fixture, that saw the team go 3-0 down after thirty minutes. A quick tactical do-over saw Hampton comeback in splendid fashion, with the score level at 3-3 at full-time, further demonstrating the resilience and mental fortitude of the team.
You couldn’t write the Second XI’s season. But somehow, Mr Leafe and Mr (Andy) Ritchie did. The Elgin Final saw the Second XI travel to Whyteleafe Stadium, in the postcode AR. You can’t write this stuff.
The sun beat down as Hampton tackled familiar opponents, and it seemed to be written in the stars (was it?) as Hampton beat Brentwood 5-0 to lift their first trophy of the season, the Elgin League Cup! One down…two to go.
Unbeaten in 2025, this winning streak was unfortunately cut short with a disappointing 4-2 loss to the Old Hamptonians side in the Walter Bailey memorial game: an important event that wasn't necessarily about winning.
The London Independent Schools Cup semi-final saw
the team face University College School. The Second XI progressed to the final after a 2-1 victory, where they would meet the familiar face of Whitgift.
Three goals, 80 minutes, and many bottles of water later, the team lifted their second trophy of the season, the London Independent Schools Cup! Two down… one more to go.
And then there was one.
A day out to a prestigious football league ground is what every member of the team had been dreaming about over the course of the year, and what a day out it was.
The team departed early that morning for the bet365 Stadium, home of Stoke City FC, with fire in their bellies and arrow-sharp determination in their minds. Stops at St George’s Park to refuel and re-inspire saw the team pumped up to the gallons as they arrived to warm up before kickoff.
A few more inspirational words from former Assistant to Gareth Southgate, Paul Nevin, saw the team into the stadium, and it was the lion’s roar from the huddle that truly kicked off the ESFA Final for the Second XI.
As was so typical of the team throughout the season, it was a blistering start to the game, and six minutes in saw Wallace pick the ball up on the right-hand side, and float a beautiful cross into the box, meeting the head of Spray as he guided it past the Northampton 'keeper and into the net.
Hampton. Went. Wild.
As the Hampton fans sang, “Ain’t nobody, like Ben Wallace…” who else but the Hampton right-back swung yet another cross into the Northampton penalty area, and a scramble saw the ball fall to Savan Soni…and the Northampton net bulged for the second time that day.
Alex Ashton, rightly named player of the match, picked up the ball on the left-hand side and drove at the Northampton defence. And they
couldn’t handle him, as he swept past one, two defenders, shot…and saved by the 'keeper, right into the path of Spray…and the Northampton net rippled for the third time that day. It was three goals in 22 minutes.
It was then relentless from the Second XI, as a corner swung in from Moylan-Jones was met sweetly with a first time volley from Captain Joe Murray, as fate would have it an almost identical goal to his first of the season against Glynn, and he raced away in celebration to greet the Hampton fans, who had also been unrelenting in their support for the team.
It was then Moylan-Jones again who drilled the ball into the box, a scramble seeing it fall to the feet of Ashton, who calmy slotted it into the Northampton net, as it strained for the final time that afternoon.
The Second XI were ESFA CHAMPIONS.
It was a season of ups and downs – but mainly ups! It was the season of the high press; it was the season of the goose flock. It was a season of unrelenting team spirit, and “I love the way they cheer the tackles and the blocks as much as the goals”, as said by the commentator in the ESFA Final. It was a season that couldn’t be written. Except the Hampton Second XI wrote it. Perfectly.
It was a season of Twogether. Forever.
GOING THE DISTANCE: MARATHON MILESTONE
Catering Manager Mr Tony Claramunt can normally be found in the Dining Hall, responsible for keeping the appetites of hungry Hamptonians at bay. He’s equally at home running 26.2 miles time and time again. Eddie Haycock finds out more.
The marathon is viewed as a landmark distance for runners and non-runners alike, a staple bucket list item and the most famous running distance in the world. Many people aspire to complete just a single marathon in their lifetime. However, this was not enough for our own Mr Tony Claramunt, who recently completed the World Marathon Majors, a series of six marathons spanning three continents. I had the opportunity to discuss this impressive feat with him, as well as how he became a runner.
"Football was my game when I was a young lad, and I’ve always had a love of sport, but I had to give up football as I started to pick up too many injuries. So I started running, around 10 years ago now. I started with small distances before signing up to various local races, to give myself a target, which was always helpful for keeping me motivated."
Although running is fundamentally a simple sport, it’s essential that you learn how to train properly. It’s important to build up to longer races, both mentally and physically.
"There are two aspects to it; firstly you need to build up your stamina by increasing in small steps, and you also need to be prepared to take your mind with you. Your mind will tell you when you’re ready to move up a step. When you’re younger, speed is often the primary focus of running. However, this becomes more unrealistic as you get older. What you can do instead is go further; the further you go the less important your speed is, and this was something that interested me. I found that within a year I was able to do a half marathon, and within two years I was aiming to complete a marathon."
Mr Claramunt mentioned one of his biggest running inspirations as former Hampton School History teacher and Team GB athlete David Clarke. "There was one person at Hampton who inspired and challenged me, and that was David Clarke.
I’d asked him for a couple of tips on marathons, and he told me that just completing a marathon wasn’t good enough; I needed to challenge myself. I’d always tell him my progress, and he’d challenge me to improve even more. He gave me the belief that I could set a time and achieve it, managing to qualify for the London Marathon through time at the first attempt. Following this, I became aware of the Majors series."
The World Marathon Majors is run over Europe, Asia and North America, with the six events being held in Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York. "Running is a community beyond just being a sport, and there was always someone who could offer advice on how to get into the Majors. The biggest challenge is to get the qualifying time for the marathons, particularly New York and Boston."’
If completing six marathons wasn’t a challenge enough, having to fit in various travel arrangements around a jam-packed school schedule added a whole new complexity to the series.
"None of the races in the series seemed to happen during school holidays, and not wanting to take time off, I’ve been forced to leave for these races as late as possible and come back as early as possible." This is best exemplified through the final marathon of the series, where Mr Claramunt ran the Tokyo Marathon on Sunday and was back in time for lunch the next day, a remarkable feat nearly as impressive as completing the marathon itself.
"For the American races, it was a case of leaving on the Friday afternoon, spending the Saturday going to the expo and collecting numbers, running on Sunday morning just to be back on a plane for Sunday night. Luckily, all these return flights came back to Heathrow, so I was just a short bus ride away from work! Going by myself, I was in control; I slept when I needed to, so I never felt any effects of jet lag despite the travel times."
Finally, Mr Claramunt offers some advice to any aspiring runners in any discipline. "As well as the level of fitness, as well as the social side of running and the ability to do it anywhere in your own time, I would say that running has a tremendous positive effect on your mental health. For me, it is my psychological release; being outside and seeing the greenery, I like nothing more than running in Bushy Park before work in the morning. I’d recommend running as a way of helping anyone with any struggles with their mental health."
"Anybody can try it. The biggest thing is your mind. If your mind wants you to do it, then you’ll do it. If your mind is happy, then your body will follow."
Not content on completing the World Marathon Majors, Mr Claramunt has already set his sights on completing a 100-mile run over the summer, and his immense running progress should serve as an inspiration to any aspiring runners of any ages.
In a candid conversation with HSC co-editor James Eggleton, Naavya Sharma OH (2024) shares his journey to professional cricket and opens up about the psychological challenges he faces in the sport.
The cricketing journey of Naavya Sharma (OH) 2024 can be described in one word: passion. From playing in the garden as a child to playing for England U19s, his enjoyment of the game underpins an already remarkable career. The road to the international stage is not solely a product of his remarkable talent, but one founded on resilience, motivation, and humility.
The summer of 2024 will go down in School records as the ‘Naavya Sharma Show’: 37 wickets, smashing the previous School record of 35; three 5-wicket hauls; and four fifties with the bat. The highlight of the year was a scintillating spell of fast bowling, with thunderous 80mph rockets tearing up the RGS Guildford First XI top order and stunning figures: 8 wickets for 15 runs.
However, he has also been making ripples in the professional cricketing community. Part of the Middlesex EPG programme, Sharma had his breakthrough season last year playing six County Championship Second XI games, earning him a professional contract and selection for the England U19 squad in their test series against Sri Lanka.
"I was watching the Euros with my friends when I got a call from Michael Yardy [England U19 selector], asking ‘can you come down to training at Wormsley tomorrow at 11am? We have picked you for the England U19 test series.’ I was buzzing, it really sunk in the next day – I am playing for England."
A couple of days later, he was to get his golden opportunity, "I got told the morning of the day that I was going to play the first test. I got my cap presented by Andrew Flintoff; it was a fantastic moment." Reflecting on the first test match, he admitted that he "bowled well, but did not quite get the fruits I wanted." But, as ever, Mother Cricket repaid her debt to Sharma in the second test, "I managed to get my 5fer, which was really the icing on the cake for the season, it was a truly amazing feeling; not only the 5fer but the whole experience: playing for my country, contributing to a series win."
Sharma was brought up on cricket in the back garden, the love of the game pervades his family, "Mum and Dad love cricket, I was always playing with them from the age of five."
SHARMA KARMA
At eight he joined the borough system, "I enjoyed my time in the Middlesex setup but was released at under-10s." Sharma could have given up on his dream of professional cricket; but, there was one thing that made him keep coming back: "when I was dropped from Middlesex, it was never the goal just to get back in, I was more focused on just playing for fun. I joined Berkshire, this helped my cricket immensely; I loved my time there."
Aged 15, Sharma’s goal of professional cricket was as alive as ever, however, he knew that to make a career out of cricket, he would have to move to a first-class county. He rejoined Middlesex Academy, which coincided with a pivotal moment in his career.
"I have had some breakthrough years, I feel like my U15 summer was one of those."
That year, he not only impressed for county and club, but also made great contributions to Hampton’s U15A team. His efforts would not go unnoticed, earning him a call-up to the School's First XI squad for winter training, and making his debut the following summer.
So, what had gone so well for Sharma that year? He puts it down to tenacity. "I have always had quite consistent progression over the years, but I found that the opportunities you get in specific years might suggest that you have improved particularly in one year, but it’s more about working hard, especially in the winter, that will give you the best chance of success." There was no secret formula; his success had been born out of hard work.
It was his hundred versus Tiffin that validated everyone’s belief in him, and it would be the start of a Hampton First XI career for the records. “That moment was one of the highlights, certainly for batting and my 8fer against RGS was definitely my favourite bowling performance." His time in the Hampton First XI, under the guidance of Mr Banerjee, Mr Parrish, and Mr Harrison was a crucial stepping stone "All the coaches at Hampton have helped me hugely, but especially those in the First XI. They were always willing to give up their time if you wanted to talk about something technical, tactical, or even mental."
Next came the biggest moment of his career to date: his England U19 call-up and debut in the first match of the Sri Lanka series. It fell to Sharma, on debut, to bowl the first ball of the series…
"You know the magnitude of the situation, you are playing for England, you are bowling the first over. In order to do well, you need to detach yourself from the moment, when you’re off the pitch you can soak it in and enjoy it. For me, it was just thinking there are only 11 guys opposite me who I’ve got to play against, don’t think about the outcome, otherwise you cannot deliver; there is just too much pressure."
"Sometimes it's difficult to detach yourself, in big moments, you know what's on the line. Sometimes I struggle and the moment gets to me; it’s something that I don’t always do well, but when I have, it’s worked." After the series, there was no doubt that Sharma had managed to get the results. A 5fer in his second test match was an extraordinary accomplishment –he'd shown he belonged on this stage.
But, cricket is a team sport, as much as it can often feel very individual. "It feels great if you do your best and contribute to the team, but you always want the team to win above all else; I am always playing for fun, I get the most enjoyment from a team victory. Your own performance feels meaningless if the team loses, but you always want to contribute."
However, to overlook the significance of the individual aspects of cricket would be naïve. The question is, what is the best way to measure your performance?
"You don’t want to measure your success on the outcomes but focus more on the processes: was I bowling quickly and accurately? At a high level, especially in T20s as a bowler, it doesn’t matter whether you are having a good day, if a batter is also having a good day, you will be smashed around the park."
Naavya’s EPG programmes have not only helped him develop this mentality but also changed his approach to training: "When you approach training you really must know what you want to get out of it. If you don’t have a purpose, you are not getting much out, only more practise. I think everyone can learn from this, my advice is to go into training with a purpose and a goal."
I am sure all keen athletes want the secrets; how can you perform consistently under pressure? His performances show incredible mental toughness and fortitude, but it is an area he wants to improve. "I think cricket is the toughest game in the world mentally; when you are performing it's fantastic –you’re getting runs and getting wickets at a test match. But if you are struggling over a few games, even if your processes are good. You start doubting yourself and lack confidence.”
“When I am in bad form I try to avoid overcomplicating it, try to stick to the processes and take each game individually. Also I like to return my focus on to the team and how we can win instead of worrying over my own individual performance."
"I don’t think anyone is born with this mindset. We always discuss the best way to remain in this focused mindset or return to it, we use the acronym, RRP: review, reset, prepare. Especially with the long nature of cricket it is impossible to stay focused for the whole period, so this ‘unfocus and refocus’ system is crucial."
RRP, processes, execution, results, success, failure; these are all ‘buzz’ words in sport, but what do they actually mean? For some, they manifest in simple plans, techniques, or repeatable actions on the field. For others, it's a bit more extreme; whether it’s a homemade morning coffee for Adam Zampa, a pre-game Red Bull for Jamie Vardy, or a sprint onto the field by Joe Root. It seems most elite athletes have superstitions and idiosyncratic methods to keep them grounded in the moment. Sharma would fail to make the list for crazy superstitions, but he does believe in the impact of a repeatable action totally under your influence in a sport which is so often not.
"I am not massively superstitious; I do have some idiosyncrasies. When I walk back to my mark after bowling, I feel really uncomfortable catching the
ball before the end of my mark, so I wait. I think in terms of psychology there is lots of support for superstitions."
Sharma’s career has not always been plain sailing, and he has had to make a lot of sacrifices, "I have definitely had to sacrifice my social life to a certain extent, although in the moment you think you are missing out on fun, I remind myself why I am making this sacrifice, it’s because I love cricket and it is really fun. You cannot do everything."
Sharma's success would not have come without the dedication and sacrifice of his parents, "whatever I say about my parents, even driving across the country is the smallest, most superficial part. It’s a deeper thing. They are both really passionate about cricket, they have very good knowledge of the game, so they are always there to support me."
Sharma’s cricketing career has left him with many life skills and lessons. His humility, dedication, and resilience have helped him achieve success off the field. Sharma is studying Maths at Warwick University after achieving an astonishing 4 A*s at A Level.
At the time of writing, he had already made plans for the off season. "Now, I am just trying to stay fit and go to the gym. I have an England U19 tour to South Africa for three weeks just before Christmas. I’m looking forward to my first taste of a professional training environment at Middlesex, I will definitely be pushing for the Middlesex First team next summer."
Unfortunately, injury in South Africa prevented Sharma from playing in the youth ODIs and Test matches against the nation. However, this summer, Sharma bounced back from his injury to make his Middlesex First XI debut in their Rothesay County Championship fixture against Leicestershire at Lord's in May achieving two wickets in the match –a phenomenal debut performance.
Hampton First XV complete remarkable comeback in the National Cup by Will Squire
The Hampton First XV began their National Cup campaign with a home win against KCS Wimbledon, following a bye in the first round. The visiting side gave a good account of themselves, but it was Hampton who came out victorious in a tightly contested 22-19 win.
The visitors started positively, using their handling effectively to touchdown for a try on the wing within the first five minutes of the game. KCS continued to pressure Hampton, dominating possession early on.
Continued pressure forced the home side to concede a penalty, and fortunately for Hampton, KCS’s number 9 failed to convert the kick. Hampton remained 5-0 down.
Hampton's steadfast defence absorbed the onslaught and the team gradually worked their way up the pitch with a mix of tactical kicking and heavy carries, especially from Tom Massey. Eventually, the team were rewarded for their efforts when Will Wallace bundled over from 2m to level the score. Unfortunately, the upright denied Hampton from making the conversion, and the half ended all-square.
Hampton came out strongly after the break, with fly-half Tim Wright converting a penalty to give Hampton a narrow three-point lead. However, the lead was short-lived, as missed tackles allowed KCS to slide in from a 2-on-1.
Another quick try from a maul followed. For Hampton, now 19-8 down, the prospect of a thirdround tie seemed to be slipping away. Captain Joe Cornell gave Hampton hope as he finished a well-worked try, dotting the ball down in between the posts; but, the score was still 19-15.
With only five minutes left, Hampton would need a try to win. Hampton won a lineout from ten metres out. Opting to maul, the forwards drove hard, and Wallace scored over the line. Wright converted the try, taking Hampton three points ahead.
As the final whistle blew, Hampton First XV celebrated a remarkable comeback: overcoming an eleven-point deficit in the second half to win 22-19. With this win, the First VX progress to the third round of the National Cup, drawn to face Epsom away – a strong challenge for this Hampton side.
Hampton's Third XV hold their nerve in close win over Brighton College
by Ben Robinson
In the always hotly contested game against Brighton College, Hampton Third XV came out on top by two points thanks to a match-winning intercept try from Alastair White and a missed conversion from Brighton.
Hampton started the match well, with two early tries from Monty Nendick and Max Camilleri. Brighton hit back with a well-worked try just before half time, but Hampton had the lead going into the second half.
Despite Hampton’s dominance in the first half, the second 40 minutes proved to be much more testing for Hampton, as Brighton secured a try to even the
score at 14-14 early in the second period.
Heading into the last 15 minutes, the sides were still deadlocked. But, with 10 minutes left on the clock, White intercepted a Brighton pass and scored to make the score 21-14. However, Brighton did not give up and hit back with a try in the corner, although the tricky conversion was incomplete, leaving the score at 21-19 to Hampton.
In the final few minutes, the Third XV was disciplined in their defence, winning a penalty at the scrum, managing to hold out to win a tight game.
CROSSY'S CORNER
Ollie Scrimshaw catches up with Hampton teacher and GB Olympian Mr Martin Cross to explore his rowing passion and Olympic success.
Mr Martin Cross is a former British Rower who has competed at the highest level. His extraordinary achievements include winning Gold in the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984 and at the 1986 Commonwealth Games.
Following his retirement, Mr Cross now works in journalism and broadcasting, most recently commentating on the recent Olympics in Paris. He writes about rowing for The Guardian and co-commentates with Greg Searle for the International Rowing Federation. He also works part-time as a history teacher at Hampton School. I caught up with him about his success as an accomplished rower.
Perhaps the most influential reason why Mr Cross began rowing was his father, who was a PE teacher at his school. He described how he was "rubbish at football, so [his] dad said maybe you might be able to try rowing." Further to the inspiration drawn from his father, Mr Cross explained how his first rowing sessions came in his third year of school and that despite the fact he was "still rubbish" at the sport, he was "less rubbish compared to other people" because everyone had started at the same time.
However, the spark that ignited Mr Cross’s rowing passion was the arrival of Olympic rower, Jim Clarke, to the school’s PE department. He
inspired Mr Cross through their conversations about the races he had on the continent and, more locally, his time at the Thames Tradesmen Rowing Club in Barnes. Following this inspiration, Mr Cross joined the club Thames Tradesmen where his try-hard mentality paid off. The inspiration of Jim Clarke planted the aspirational goal of competing at the national championship in his head.
Mr Cross has two Olympic medals from his time as a British oarsman. However, the resilience to make it to the Olympics would not have happened without the inspiration drawn from many different people over his career. Growing up, Mr Cross was ‘Olympics mad,’ yet watching the Olympics on the television was difficult as it wasn't that popular to watch. He explained that "if I was ever to become involved in rowing, my mission would be to make it to the Olympics," which he described as the festival of sport. Through determination and hard work, Mr Cross successfully won his first championships in 1975 at the age of 18, and this boosted his confidence.
Now, Mr Cross only had one thing on his mind: to realise his Olympic dream. The rowers had won Bronze in 1978 in the 1978 World Rowing Championships at Karapiro, New Zealand, so "there was lots of pressure" on the GB team at the Olympics.
Despite an early wobble in their first race, the GB team overcame the pressure and delivered in the repechage to book a place in the final.
Mr Cross explained how the favourites, who were the Romanians and the Swiss, "blew out", leaving the door open for the GB team to snatch Bronze. These Olympic games were merely the first steps in what would prove to be a star-studded career for Mr Cross.
Mr Cross is proud of the Gold he won, aged 27, at the 1984 LA Olympics, describing it as "a standout moment", despite it not being the favourite in his career. He explained how he won Gold with the "incredible athlete" Steve Redgrave, who went on to win four more Olympic Golds. Mr Cross added "when I’m asked about my favourite memory, I think of races I did well in without Steve." So instead, Mr Cross explained to us about how he and another rowing partner, Adam Cliff, won the Lucerne Regatta in 1986, which he described as "one of the top regattas." Pairs from America, Germany and the Czech Republic were clearly no match for this dynamic duo, as they dominated the event. Mr Cross is also an author, publishing Olympic Obsession in 2001.
When asked about his inspiration, he explained how he "loved stories" and that is why he decided to become a history teacher. Mr Cross also mentioned how he is an extrovert and, through meeting people, has benefited from inspirational stories from both athletes and coaches.
ROWING
Mr Cross decided to write a book to give these people and their stories the recognition they deserve. Moreover, the process of writing the book also helped Mr Cross to recover from a period of depression that he suffered from 1996 to 1997.
He explained that each chapter about himself is "twinned with another rower’s story." To give an example, there is a chapter called Shoot Me, which Mr Cross described as ‘the story of Steve Redgrave’ and the disappointment following the Atlanta Olympics in 1996. Another example is a joint chapter on Greg Searle OH (1990) and Jonny Searle OH (1987) who won Gold under the coaching and wisdom of Mr Cross. He summarised the book as one being "more about life as a rower than of rowing itself."
Mr Cross’s most challenging opposition were the East Germans, describing them as "full-time athletes" as opposed to himself being part-time. He continued by saying they "took drugs such as steroids" to improve their training and explained that, while taking drugs was illegal, at that time "they did not have drug tests," so teams were not penalised. He clearly looked up to them as a teenager; he had posters of the ‘"unbeatable" East Germans on his bedroom wall and watched them win their first Gold medal when he was sixteen.
This motivated Mr Cross, and, three years later, he found himself racing against them at the Olympics. The two teams were "level at the start of the race", but ten strokes in the German cox shouted "los," meaning go in German, and the British team never saw them again. He summarised the race by saying "you can beat people on drugs, you just have to have incredible rowers."
Mr Cross’s rowing career has taken him to all four corners of the world, and he has raced against hundreds of world-class teams. Winning championships in New Zealand, Switzerland, and USA, his rowing legacy is remarkable. Now, as commentator and journalist, his contribution and services to the sport of rowing are nothing short of extraordinary.
HOWZAT FOR A MEMORY
Theo
Payne interviews Chemistry teacher and cricketing fanatic Mr Anthony Ellison about his cricketing career, coaching, and favourite memories.
What is your favourite cricket memory overall?
My favourite cricket memory is playing for MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club) at Lord’s in 1993. Every time there is an Ashes Test at Lord’s, the very next day after the Test Match has been completed, MCC play another “MCC”, namely the Melbourne Cricket Club. In 1993, we played on the exact same strip on which Michael Atherton had been given run out… for 99. My selection for MCC was a “thank you” for playing nearly 300 Out-Matches for MCC (who play every season against clubs, schools, universities and visiting countries). On that day, I opened the batting for MCC with Chris Broad, whose son is Stuart Broad. I didn't do too badly, scoring 41 runs! Unsurprisingly, Chris – having been an England Test player – scored 116, and we won the match by six runs. So, yes, that's my favourite memory.
What is your favourite memory off the field?
I'd say the friends I've played cricket with, particularly at my school and at Old Emanuel Cricket Club. In my youth, I went to Emanuel School, in Wandsworth, and we used to play cricket against Hampton Grammar School, as it was called at the time.
Who is the most famous cricketer that you have played with or coached?
Well, obviously Chris Broad, who got three hundreds in the Ashes series down under in 1986-87 is one of the most famous cricketers I've played with. I coached Sir Alastair Cook once when he was twelve. He was the leading run-scorer for the England Men’s team until Joe Root overtook him recently. He is probably the most famous person I have ever coached.
What made you start playing cricket?
Well, neither my father nor my mother played cricket, so we had a family friend who made a bat out of some old wood he found in the garden, so that’s where I started playing the game.
Fortunately, when I went to Emanuel School aged eleven, where there was some very good coaching, and I also went to the Gover Cricket School in East Hill, Wandsworth – which was one of the very few indoor cricket schools around in the 1970s.
If you could play cricket on any ground anywhere in the world, where would it be?
I have to say Lord’s in England. But if there was another ground I would like to play on, I think I would like to have played on a major ground in India, where cricket is very, very keenly followed. Say, in front of a “full house” in Mumbai! But, sometimes, the best things in life are close to home, and all cricketers from across the world want to play at Lord’s, the “Home of Cricket.” Naturally, I feel very blessed to have done that on the main ground, being a cricket fanatic from an early age.
Who is your favourite cricketer of all time?
My favourite cricketer of all time, whom I am very lucky to have met in person, is Graham Gooch. He was at his best in the 1980s and 1990s, and in July 1990 I saw him score 333 in the first innings against India (he batted for more than ten and a half hours, faced 485 balls, hit 43 fours and three sixes!) and then he scored 123 in the second innings of the same Test match for good measure! And – until last summer –333 was the highest ever individual score by a batter at Lord’s – but that was beaten by Sam Northeast (335 no) in a county game for Glamorgan against Middlesex in 2024.
Mr Ellison has a message for all Hamptonians: "Never give up on your cricketing dreams… because dreams sometimes CAN come true."
BY ARCHIE HURST
MAKING A SPLASH: FYNN ADAMS
HSC co-editor Archie Hurst catches up with Fifth Year swimmer Fynn Adams on his accolades so far, intense training schedule, and Olympic dreams.
Although swimming may not be one of Hampton’s ‘headline’ sports, one does not have to go far below the ‘surface’ to find a fair few Hamptonians who excel at it.
I got the opportunity to speak to one of Hampton’s top young swimmers, Fynn Adams, about his experiences with the sport, and the challenges he faces in balancing his athletic, academic, and personal life.
Fynn is currently in Fifth Year and swims at Teddington Swimming Club. I asked him to tell me a little bit about his day-to-day activities as a young athlete. Normal Mondays, for him, begin by waking up at the crack of dawn to be in the pool for 6am.
“If I have any homework left over from the weekend, I’ll do it in the morning in the library, and at lunchtimes I often do homework, as I know I won’t be able to do it in the evening.” He then goes on to train from 7pm for over two hours in the same evening. He repeats this gruelling regime Monday to Saturday, with the exception of mornings off on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Staggeringly, this amounts to nearly 19 hours of training, both in and out of the pool.
Having to train both in the morning and evening often means Fynn does not have masses of spare time to himself, or for his studies, and says he often finds himself in the library doing homework both in the morning and at lunchtimes in order to clear his busy schedule. When he isn’t competing, Sundays are dedicated to homework and revision.
Competing at a young age in national competitions means Fynn finds himself travelling to places such as the Ponds Forge Centre in Sheffield, the London Aquatics Centre in Stratford, and as far away as Swansea to compete. Although it may sound overwhelming and bleak, it is not all in vain.
Fynn finished fifth in his age group at the 200m backstroke at the British Swimming Championships in 2024, and he won two Silver medals at the English Swimming Championships the same year.
“The hype is amazing.” Fynn says that despite everything, all the early mornings, the long, hard training sessions, it's all worth it for the end goal. He wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Of course, I had to ask where he saw himself in the future. “Do we have a future Olympian on our hands?” I asked, jokingly. “The Olympics are my goal.” He says back to me with a straight face. “I’d love to make a career out of it, but I know that schoolwork is my priority in case it doesn’t work out.”
Although young, he is already weighing up the possibility of a scholarship to an American university; however, he asserts that this currently sits at the bottom of his list of priorities, and he is unlikely to want to be so far away from home and his family.
Fynn is looking ahead to the next chapter of his academic and athletic journey, with a strong interest in joining a British sporting college or Sixth Form that offers a high-performance swimming programme. Inspired by the achievements of top British swimmers, He is motivated by a desire to follow in their footsteps and reach the highest levels of the sport. “I don’t know what the future holds, but I’m ready for it!”
Swimming is a discipline that often goes under the radar in school sport, yet it demands extraordinary commitment, resilience and countless hours of training. Fynn exemplifies these qualities, balancing his academic studies with a rigorous training schedule, and consistently demonstrating the determination required to compete at the highest level.
With his talent, drive and clear vision for the future, Fynn Adams is undoubtedly a name to watch. Could we see him on the blocks at the 2032 Brisbane Olympics? Only time will tell – but the journey is already well underway.
WHAT A SEASON!
Tom
Scrimshaw reviews a memorable season for the U15A footballers – reaching a phenomenal three cup finals across the year.
The 2024-25 season was certainly a memorable one for Hampton’s U15A footballers, characterised by courageous comebacks, captivating cup-runs and success in Spain.
Under the expert coaching of Mr Boyes, the squad enjoyed a stellar season, playing 37 games, winning 29, drawing three, and losing just five matches, reaching three cup finals along the way.
The campaign commenced with a seven-game winning streak, including particularly impressive victories in the early rounds of the English Schools' Football Association (ESFA) Cup, including a 5-0 victory against Therfield School and a 9-0 win against Overton Grange School, helping the team grow in confidence and set their standards for the rest of the season.
The October half term break provided the team with an exciting new experience in the form of a training camp in Villareal, Spain. Whilst this was a chance to face new opposition, it was also a great opportunity to bring the team closer together.
Hampton’s first game overseas came against Villareal B, the team that 2024 Ballon D’Or winner Rodri played for during his youth career.
Thanks to a flurry of first half goals, Hampton battled to a 4-1 victory, successfully overcoming the tough technical challenge coupled with the style of possession-based football that Spaniards are so renowned for.
Back at home, and in the run up to Christmas, Hampton showed no signs of festive fatigue, booking their place in round six of the ESFA Cup, whilst also securing a highly-anticipated Independent Schools' Football Association (ISFA) Cup quarter-final against Epsom College to be played after the break, courtesy of a miraculous comeback win against Lingfield College in the earlier round.
After a poor first half display against the former ESFA Small Schools Champions, Hampton had trailed 3-0 against Lingfield at the break, with the odds stacked against them.
However, the “never say die” attitude that the team had developed over the course of the season proved pivotal in the second half, as goals from Alex Pollock, Oliver Khaksar and Ben Whitely completed the 4-3 turnaround in a comeback for the ages.
The start of 2025 brought with it a fresh hunger amongst the squad to kick on and push for silverware.
A 5-0 victory against The Mountbatten School and a 2-1 triumph against Hurstmere School sent Hampton on their way to the quarter-final stage of the ESFA Cup, before a convincing 4-1 win over Repton School in the semi–finals of the ISFA Cup booked Hampton’s place in their first national final of the season, to be played at the Pirelli Stadium – home of Burton Albion FC.
Penalties had proven Hampton’s Achilles heel in recent seasons; however, luck was on their side against Aldenham School in the semi–final stage of the Elgin League, with the team prevailing in a 3-2 penalty shootout win after a 2-2 draw in normal time, cementing a second final of the campaign.
As the business end of the season well and truly approached, Hampton travelled to the Samuel Whitbread Academy for their ESFA Cup quarter-final. Despite going behind in the early exchanges, Hampton once again showed their mental resilience to take a 3-1 lead into half time.
An onslaught of pressure from the opposition in the second half, pegged Hampton’s lead back to 4-4, before a late winner from Ned Leonard proved enough to send Hampton into the final four of the competition.
However, the highly anticipated ISFA Cup final was just around the corner, with Hampton parents, pupils and staff making the three hour journey up to Burton to support the team, in what was their first final in a Hampton shirt.
The game kicked off under the floodlights at the Pirelli Stadium, with an atmosphere starting to brew even before the first whistle blew. Previous
winners Aldenham School started the better, grabbing an early goal with a back post tap in before doubling their lead before half-time after an unfortunate Hampton own goal. Adding to their first half goal after the break, Aldenham marched into a comfortable lead courtesy of a fine strike from outside the box.
Despite the three-goal deficit, Hampton knew that if they kept applying their game plan and continued to approach the game with the correct mindset, anything was possible. Thanks to a wellconverted penalty from Pollock and fine finish from Khaksar in the dying embers of the game, Hampton found themselves back within reach, however as the final whistle sounded, Hampton’s comeback was cruelly cut short.
Despite an unfortunate 3-2 loss on the night, Hampton were able to walk away feeling a great sense of pride that they had finished runners up in such a prestigious tournament and had taken with them a great deal of experience for the years to come in black and yellow.
Just five days later, Hampton faced Royal Russell in their second final of the season, this time in the Elgin League. Despite numerous chances for both teams during normal time, the tie remained goalless and progressed straight to penalties after the 70 minutes of full time. Notwithstanding their success in penalty shootouts this season, luck wasn’t on Hampton’s side on this occasion, with the opposition claiming a 5-3 victory from the spot.
As cruel as a penalty shootout loss can be, Hampton’s narrow defeat once again proved invaluable to the overall development of the team, ahead of a crunch clash in the semi–final of the ESFA Cup against familiar opposition Aldenham School.
With hopeful home supporters watching on, Hampton kicked off their third game of the season against Aldenham School. After an uneventful first half, Hampton looked the stronger side but struggled to convert their chances, with the game goalless at the halfway stage of the proceedings.
The start of the second half bought with it an onslaught of pressure from Aldenham, as the away side took a 2-0 lead early on. However, Hampton once again showed their unparalleled determination to ‘never say die’, battling back to level the tie at 2-2, forcing the game into extra time.
With the support of the rallying Hampton faithful from the sidelines, the team were able to reap the rewards of their labour, completing the turnaround to take a 3-2 lead courtesy of talisman Khaksar, once again, completing his hat-trick.
As the game began to draw to a close, Hampton could see a place in the final on the horizon, and with the opposition pushing players forward to try to salvage an equaliser, Hampton could smell blood,
pushing on to extend their lead to 5-2 before the final whistle, confirming the U15A team as the first team in recent Hampton history to reach both national finals in the same season.
655 teams. 10 rounds. 7 months. Hampton’s latest ESFA Cup triumph was an excellent measure of the progress made by the team over the course of the season, under the leadership of coach Mr Boyes.
As the day of the ESFA Cup final arrived, there was an air of excitement around School, with over 100 pupils, staff and parents travelling to The Hawthorns Stadium, home of West Bromwich Albion. After an enthralling game, with Hampton characteristically battling back from 2-0 down to level the tie at 2-2, the game proceeded to penalties to decide the national champions. However, it was Hampton heartbreak once again as Wright Robinson College prevailed on penalties, winning 5-4.
Whilst it wasn’t the result that the Hampton community had hoped for, the unrelenting support from parents, pupils and staff throughout the season, has undoubtedly contributed to the team’s success, with players and supporters alike enjoying a truly memorable campaign. From beachballs to banana costumes, and the Hampton Lion to pounding drums, the Hanworth Road faithful can always be relied on when a national final comes around, and this year was no exception.
Whilst Hampton had once again fallen at the final hurdle, it would be impossible to disregard the truly incredible season that had just come to an end. With three cup finals reached, two of which were national competitions, Hampton’s U15A team begin preparations for the 2025-26 season safe in the knowledge that they are within touching distance of a national title.
HAMPTONIANS ON THE WATER
Oliver Dugaric reviews a memorable season for our rowers, with the pinnacle, Henley Royal Regatta, still to look forward to.
The 2024-25 rowing season has been extremely successful, with camps to both Seville and Soustons, and hours of training filling the weeks in-between. An immense amount of effort has been put in by everyone involved.
Starting off strong, the numerous Head races culminated in an impressive performance at Schools' Head of the River Race. Over half the crews placed in the top five in their respective categories, with two impressive Gold medals being taken home by the J18 Second VIII and J15 Third VIII.
Following on from this, sights were set on the National Schools' Regatta. Out of 12 crews who travelled to the National Water Sports Centre in Nottingham, over half fought their way to the A finals in their respective categories, with four boats coming away with medals. Friday saw the first day at a very windy Nottingham, where our J14 squad pulled away with two A finals under their belt, finishing a commendable fifth in both of them.
With high winds forcing the cancellation of Sunday's racing, Saturday became a packed and high-stakes day on the water. All but three crews powered their way into A finals, showcasing the club’s depth and determination. The J15 squad delivered a strong performance, securing two Bronze medals. The J16 First VIII earned a respectable sixth-place finish, while the J18 squad made multiple podium appearances: the 1st VIII placed fourth, the Second VIII claimed Bronze, and the Third VIII impressed with a Silver medal finish.
Furthermore, there have been some outstanding individual performances across the year groups. Lower Sixth Hamptonian Rohan Ladva was crowned national champion in single sculling for the second consecutive year – a remarkable achievement. Adding to this success, a record number of senior rowers took part in GB trials throughout the season. Lower Sixth Formers Ewan McVey and Leo Robertson, along with Upper Sixth rowers Fabien Tinsley-Roy and Harry Bernard, all competed for places in the GB squad. Harry Bernard went on to qualify and delivered a sensational performance, winning Gold in the men’s eight at the Munich International Junior Regatta.
With momentum building and spirits high, preparations for this year's Henley Royal Regatta are charging ahead – every crew is pushing hard, fuelled by the grit and determination that’s defined our season so far.
The achievements of the Boat Club has seen a steady rise over the past few years, cementing itself as one of the top school boat clubs in the country and there is no doubt that Hamptonians will continue to push on for greater rowing glory.
WICKETS IN THE WIND: THE FIRST XI CRICKET TOUR
BY JAMES EGGLETON
Hampton's First XI travelled to Barbados for their Cricket Tour. James Eggleton outlines the memorable moments of the trip.
The Hampton First XI cricket team went on their biennial cricket tour over the Easter holidays, their destination: Barbados. Despite the long flight, the journey passed quickly with the 18-strong squad eagerly anticipating the exciting Caribbean experience that lay ahead.
Hit immediately with 30°C heat, day one was acclimatisation training at Franklyn Stephenson Academy. A productive yet tiring session left the team prepared and excited for the seven matches they would play over the following days.
The acclimatisation session was followed by a party bus tour of the island, giving the team an amazing opportunity to soak up the full Bajan experience: extraordinary scenery, a rich history, and an introduction to the country's vibrant music and cultural scene!
Day two saw the First XI kick off their 2025 season in earnest with two T20s against Barbados Women. Playing against a highquality opposition, including West Indies women internationals, Hampton displayed excellent performances in both matches; impressive batting from Will Wallace with 41*(21) in the first match, and Richard Page with 51rtd(29) and Will Youster with the ball (3-8) in the second steering Hampton to two convincing victories. An amazing day was capped off with the team meeting Jason Holder, former Windies Cricket Captain, at the ground.
Hampton’s next fixture was a day-night white ball game under floodlights against Isolation Cavaliers U21s.
A true Caribbean experience awaited the squad as the match was accompanied by music, live commentary, and a barbecue. The tourists, bowling first, knocked over the Cavaliers for only 72 thanks to two outstanding spells from Raphael Taylor, 5-3-4-3.
As the sun set, Hampton faltered in the chase with quick wickets falling at the start, the team were left reeling at 25-5. A watchful partnership between James Eggleton (27*) and Ollie Hamilton (14) got the visitors to within striking distance of the target, and Hampton eventually got over the line with two wickets to spare.
Match day three, the last before a much-needed rest day, was a 50-over red ball game between Hampton and Grantly Adam’s School. Hampton opted to bat first in the 30°C heat, a trial of concentration and stamina awaited their batters. Nat Taylor and Captain Anuj Srivastav rose to the challenge, scoring 65rtd and 51rtd respectively; this set a strong platform for Hampton’s middle order. Cameos from Hugo Knowles (28) and Olly Spray (33) propelled the visitors to 297 off their 50 overs. An impressive batting performance was matched by yet another strong display from the bowling attack, with both Youster and Raphael Taylor recording identical figures of 5-1-10-3, as the home side fell 200 runs short of their target.
After a rest day spent at the Boatyard Beach Club in Bridgetown, the team was ready for their toughest challenge yet: a 50 over day-night game against Legacy Cricket Academy (LCA) at
the University of West Indies Cricket Stadium. Fielding first, another hot and tiring day awaited. The team fought valiantly to restrict LCA to 310 on a flat pitch with spinners Natty Taylor and Zaid Ahmed both taking two key wickets. Special mention should also go to wicketkeepers Oli Lacey and Maddox Dakin with very tidy displays in challenging conditions.
Unfortunately, the chase proved too much for the tourists who fell 100 runs short of their target. However, much credit is due to Hampton’s top order, particularly Srivastav, who braved a fiery bowling attack under the lights, dubbed the ‘best bowling attack in Barbados’; he scored a scintillating 60, albeit in vain.
Hampton returned to winning ways with a convincing victory over Pickwick CC. A tough wicket (a rarity in Barbados) left Hampton struggling; five wickets had fallen without any meaningful partnerships. It would be James Stanworth who delivered an explosive 49 (41) and a steadying 40 from Hamilton that propelled Hampton up to 180, a competitive score.
With overcast and cool conditions, Hampton’s bowlers may have sensed some familiarity in the setting and, as always, were straight into their work. Seamers Ed Reilly and Aaryan Desai combined in an impressive opening spell, dispatching Pickwick’s top order with figures of 4-1-7-1 and 4-0-15-3 respectively. Hampton made quick work of Pickwick’s middle order and tail, with two wickets apiece for Knowles, Ahmed, and Youster, bowling the hosts out for 70.
Then came the climax of the tour. The final game, the toughest game, on the biggest stage of them all, walking in the footsteps of cricketing legends: Lara, Root, Kohli, Ponting, Kallis, and more; the final game was at the Kensington Oval
against the Barbados Select XI. Hampton bowled first on a green top wicket, and opening bowlers Hamilton and Ollie Davies restricted Barbados and pressured the batting side. Nevertheless, Barbados showed their class and depth, accelerating from 120 off 30 overs to 200 from 42. A tight death overs spell from Knowles gave Hampton the momentum in the final ten overs, taking three wickets from the Malcom Marshall End, including a wicket thanks to a breath-taking catch by Page on the boundary rope – a world class catch befitting of the phenomenal venue.
Hampton required 290 to win. A challenging opening spell from Barbados’ quicks left Hampton in danger, on only 24 runs for the loss of two wickets. However, a crucial 80-run partnership between Srivastav (45) and Eggleton took Hampton through the new ball and established a foothold in the chase. Eggleton and Hamilton continued to close in on the target, taking Hampton through the middle overs and into a strong position by the 32nd over. With Eggleton retired on 50 runs, the baton was handed to Stanworth and Thomas Tabor to counterattack alongside Hamilton. Stanworth scored 18 off 11, with Tabor bludgeoning 34 off 20, both placing the Barbados bowlers into the stands on multiple occasions. Finally, it was Hamilton, who finished on an outstanding 82*, and the new batter Spray who knocked off the final ten runs with three overs to spare, with Spray sealing the deal with an emphatic onebounce four.
Hampton had triumphed with an historic victory. It was the perfect way to end what had been an amazing tour for all and an unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime experience. Thank you to Mr Banerjee, Mr Parrish, and Mr Mills for their hard work and generosity in planning, organising, and managing the tour!
BY ALEX WATSON
MR CROOK'S TOUCHDOWN
Fifth Year Alex Watson interviews Mr Tom Crook about the growing sport of flag football and his experiences playing across Europe.
Whilst most are familiar with American football, its non-contact counterpart is recognised by far fewer. American flag football is a sport which has significantly grown in coverage and popularity over the last few years, with an article in The Guardian describing how it has ‘gone berserk’ and ‘is rapidly catching on in the UK with a surge in the number of schools involved.’ It’s also set to be introduced as a new event at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Hampton’s very own Outdoor Activities Specialist Mr Tom Crook has enjoyed plenty of success in the game since he started playing just a year and a half ago, from competing in international tournaments to trialling for Great Britain. "The pace of it is what I enjoy," he explains. "There are no big offensive or defensive lines, it's just all the quick and agile players. It’s all about your speed in getting that first step on the defender."
Likening the sport to Rugby Sevens, he adds that the game is also somewhat knowledge-based. "A lot of thinking goes into where you’re running to try and catch the ball," he observes, "and you have to take into account where both you and all the rest of your team are, particularly if your defender’s covering you well and you need to change route."
Mr Crook’s fantastic experiences playing flag football perfectly illustrate the excitement and opportunity that playing any sport can bring. His team, London Smoke, have competed in international tournaments across Europe, even playing in an equivalent to the football Champions League in Croatia. This was comprised of the top teams in leagues around the world, with London Smoke eventually finishing in a highly impressive third place.
He particularly remembers his team's 61-59 win, one of the highest-scoring games in the tournament, against German side Walldorf Wanderers, who went on to win the competition, with the two teams "going back-to-back and scoring pretty much every try." In comparison, Mr Crook estimates that "in your average match there will be about 40 to 50 points."
"My favourite match was probably one in Copenhagen, against essentially the German national team."
He goes on to say, "I scored on a couple of plays, including a good hitch and go route where I faked the player inside."
"Interest and accessibility have grown massively," he remarks. "I definitely think it will become more popular. Even this year, there’s a restructuring of the UK flag league to get more competitive games, increasing the pyramid structure, and women playing as well. There are even competitions for schools to play in."
Reflecting on his chances of playing in the next Olympics, Mr Crook admits that. "It’s a possibility. There are trials each year, and they expand, because they’ve got two teams playing. I don’t know; we’ll have a look and see where things take me."
Another upside to flag football is the fact that anyone can play it. "In my team, we’ve got four or five players that are in the national squad," he explains, "and they all come from different jobs. You’ve got some people who are personal trainers, some like myself who work in schools, others are CEOs of companies; there’s so much variety. It’s a very accessible sport; your job doesn’t really matter."
Mr Crook was keen to recommend American flag football to Hamptonians, particularly because unlike real American football, it doesn’t require too much kit. "You can actually pick it up quite easily – you don’t need a pair of gloves or a pair of boots. All you need is ten people for a game. It’s something new and interesting for you to try," he encourages.
It’s clear that the future of American flag football is a promising one: both for the sport in general, for Mr Crook, and hopefully for pupils around the world.
BY ARCHIE HURST
AN ALMOST FAIRYTALE
Archie Hurst reflects back on the 2024 Olympics, which saw the culmination of the astonishing career of Adam Peaty.
Swimming is often swept under the radar. We only watch it at the Olympics, usually as a bit of background telly while you’re making lunch and hanging up the washing, but then it disappears again.
Swimming was the standout sport in Paris last summer, with Leon Marchand, the poster boy of the Olympics, winning four Golds, a feat only achieved by the American greats Mark Spitz and Michael Phelps. It was a spectacle to watch when Marchand was in the pool, and hearing the home crowd boom with Allez as he swam, created an extraordinary atmosphere.
The Paris pool did not just attract the attention solely because of Marchand. This summer we also saw something no-one in the world of swimming thought they would see again: Adam Peaty back in the pool. Peaty’s story is certainly one for the ages, his career is both star-studded and shrouded in controversy. The 2021 Olympics were the pinnacle for Peaty, as he became the first Briton to defend his title in the 100m breaststroke.
However, Peaty’s success could not last forever. He broke his foot, resulting in him missing the 2022 World Championships in Budapest. He then rushed to compete in the Commonwealth Games several months later, finishing fourth in the 100m final – a massive disappointment and the end to his winning streak.
"When I lost that 100m final, I spiralled."
As an athlete who is on top for so long, finally losing can be tough. Extremely tough. The thoughts and emotions that you then experience can be impossible to deal with, thinking “Will I ever do it again?”, “What was it all for?”, resulting in lashing out, blaming others and yourself. This is what happened to Peaty.
Peaty took a break from the sport in early 2023 for mental health reasons, having a much-needed and well-deserved rest.
"Everything seemed grey. There was no colour, no optimism, no healthy relationships with people.”
Then came redemption. Peaty was named in the 33-strong GB Swimming team for the 2024 Olympics, the gossiping began, rising to a whole nation wanting, believing that he could go to Paris and win Gold yet again.
With hope comes expectation, with expectation comes pressure, and pressure is a strange thing. Swimming is a harsh sport. The stopwatch does not discriminate. You are either the quickest, or not. Training for six hours a day, 300 days a year, swimming is the most demanding sport in terms of pure volume of training. Yet, to reach the top, a combination of both skill and natural ability is needed.
So, after all these hours of hard work, for the stopwatch to tell you, “No. You’re too slow”, can be soul-destroying. Peaty missed out on Gold in Paris by 0.02s, but in his mind it was different: “I felt like I’ve still won it.”
The emotional strength to step up after what many would consider a loss for one of the greatest swimmers of all time and look straight at the camera and say: "That's the beauty of it. My heart, I put my all into it and I couldn't have put in anymore." That is true strength.
Peaty has been one of the greatest swimmers of all time. He set the world of swimming on fire, setting unbreakable records and dominating for years – a feat truly cementing his place among the greats of the sport. At the finale, in the mind of many, the fairy tale ending was not to be, but for Peaty, Silver was the perfect sign off. Knowing, deep down, that you gave it everything; that is the greatest victory of all.
That, at least for me, is a fairytale ending for Peaty if there ever was one.
MUTINY ON THE THAMES
HSC writer Patrick Moroney interviews Mr Anthony Ward about his historic appearance in The Boat Race and discovers more about the controversy of the 1987 race.
The Boat Race is the most famous rowing race in the world – and one of the toughest. It is unlike most races because of its fame and being run on a tidal river. The course stretches 6.8km against the tide from Putney to Mortlake, which is over three times the Olympic distance. Recently, I spoke to Mr Anthony Ward who won The Boat Race in 1987 for Oxford and is currently Hampton’s Second VIII coach.
Mr Ward was the youngest in the victorious Oxford boat, having left King's School Chester two years before, but he describes how he was unaffected by his relative inexperience, having been around the programme and in contention for a seat the previous year. However, this would be no ordinary race with conflict between athletes and coach Dan Topolski. With disagreements from “various parts of the squad, the [boat club] president and the coach over the best way forward and who should be in the boat.” This breakdown of trust between athletes and coach culminated in “awkward” and “difficult” preparation for an already mentally challenging race. But Mr Ward says, looking back now “as a mature person”, “being as young as I was made this more difficult.”
Tensions grew further in the build up to the race and finally climaxed in mutiny when five American oarsman and a cox left the crew over disagreement with the management. Despite the obvious disruption, Mr Ward describes how motivation remained high; he still saw the crew as
a group of “motivated individuals who all wanted to do as well as they could.” Nonetheless, without the Americans in the crew, Oxford went from strong favourites to underdogs, “changing the psychology of the race for both crews.”
The day of the race was not without its difficulties, as stormy weather and a strong headwind led to the prospect of challenging conditions. Mr Ward reflected that it was unlikely the race would have been rowed at all under today’s safety rules. However, he felt this helped more than hindered, “as an underdog crew, anything that creates a bit of disruption is potentially useful.” Luck also played a part with Oxford gaining, in his opinion, the better of the two stations, which allowed them to take the more sheltered line along the course in the early part of the race. This allowed Oxford to throw Cambridge off their rhythm “a lot more than it threw us off our rhythm.” Particular credit was given to the stroke of the Oxford boat, Gavin Stewart (coincidently the tallest and heaviest rower in the race's history at that point at 6’8’’), who helped them power through the tough water. Mr Ward mentions how this combination, along with Cambridge having “not their best row at all,” as being critical in their victory.
After powering to a clear water victory of four lengths, Mr Ward described a sense of “huge satisfaction.” Having been underdogs he described how the crew just wanted to “row as well as we could and see what happened.” But there was always a feeling that the press had made them out to be greater underdogs than they truly were.
The moment of realisation came after passing under Hammersmith Bridge (just before the halfway point), where the water calmed to allow Cambridge to show their top speed. Yet, Oxford’s lead remained intact. This gave them the mental edge to get through the middle of the race and by Barnes Bridge (1km to the finish line), Mr Ward knew that “as long as we rowed cleanly or didn’t mess anything up” the race was theirs.
Oxford stayed strong, and as they powered across the line; all the disruption had been forgotten, replaced by pure joy in winning this historic race.
VAR ON TRIAL
FOOTBALL
Second Year Harry Morris delves into the problems with VAR in the Premier League and analyses potential solutions.
VAR isn’t working.
From the start of the season until February 2025, VAR made 13 mistakes that have been identified by the Premier League’s Key Match Incidents Panel – four incorrect VAR interventions and nine missed interventions – with many others they have not admitted to. VAR should only be used to detect clear and obvious errors, or serious missed incidents, but it is failing to do this accurately. This is far from the only problem. It often delays the game, spending minutes checking things that aren’t 'clear and obvious'. Similarly, there is poor communication with fans in the stadium, despite attempts to improve this. So clearly VAR needs to change, but should we scrap it completely?
What could be done to improve VAR? Firstly, with offsides, should we worry about an attacker being a millimetre offside, when the technology doesn’t seem that reliable? Perhaps we shouldn't judge offsides with lines, with VAR only changing decisions clear to the eye. Undoubtedly, only reviewing clear and obvious missed offsides – something which is rare anyway – would dramatically speed up the game. This would make VAR an 'umpire's call' system (like cricket) where anything that is not clear remains the linesman call. This would significantly speed the game up, as well as retain the role of the linesman.
VAR is also criticised for the time it takes to make decisions, with fans waiting to see if there was a foul. No one wants this, and it takes the fun and excitement out of the game. If VAR calls take over a minute, how can they be clear and obvious anyway? To improve this, VAR could be restricted to a minute once the technology has loaded to prevent long wait times and only overturn goals that are ‘clear and obvious’.
To speed the game up you could give the captain a couple of VAR reviews (non-offside or goal-line decisions) and with every correct decision you keep your call. A ‘review’ system has worked well in sports like cricket. However, captains could easily miss chances due to the chaotic nature of the game, should a decision to not review really decide a result? While an interesting idea, I don’t think this would work in practice!
What we often question is VAR’s decision making, as many of the people running VAR on matchdays are referees and seem afraid to embarrass their fellow referees when they make a mistake. To solve this problem, you could change the VAR setup entirely, removing any connections and improving standards at the same time, as the fifth official could focus solely on that. This would allow the highest quality of refereeing both on the ground and for VAR.
Fans in the stadium also feel disconnected, as they must wait until they watch the highlights to find out why VAR made a decision. They have tried to fix this, as now during the game a short paragraph appears on the screen, explaining the reason for the decision. Yet these are generally unhelpful as they may just say “after checking the foul on Player X by Player Y, VAR deemed that there was no foul committed so after an on-field review play started from a goal kick.” This is progress, but it still leaves fans confused! Why shouldn’t football, like rugby, introduce a system where you can hear the ref and the fifth official, to understand what is going on and show what VAR and the referee are looking at on the big screen? This would eliminate confusion and help fans understand decisions.
Some people argue that VAR should be scrapped completely, except for offsides and goal-line decisions. Football is subjective and there will always be arguments over what VAR has done wrong; there will still be human error – this will never change. Many decisions on fouls, red cards and penalties are subjective, no matter how many camera angles there are. This is the reason why technology works well in cricket or tennis, as nearly all the decisions are objective, so once watched with the correct technology in place, it will be right 99% of the time. Offsides and goal-line decisions are objective and should not be a matter of opinion, so use VAR for this and nothing else.
These are just some suggestions. Hopefully VAR will improve and become what the average fan wants it to be.
BY JAMES EGGLETON
CROWNING GLORY
The rise of Josh King OH (2023) from Hampton standout to Premier League debutant has been nothing short of meteoric.
James Eggleton reviews the 18-year-old's outstanding season for Fulham FC.
On 5 December 2024, 18-year-old Josh King (OH) 2023 made his Premier League debut in Fulham’s 3-1 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion FC. King came on in the 80th minute for Rodrigo Muniz as a tactical substitution by Fulham boss Marco Silva with the game firmly in the balance at 2-1.
The Fulham coach was delighted with the impact that King had on the game: “It was a moment that I decided already to change, to put Raúl and Josh King in to help our first pressure. And from that moment we started to press higher, better, and we didn't give many chances for them after 2-1."
King’s footballing career has skyrocketed to new highs in the early stages of the 2024-25 season, making his senior debut in Fulham’s 2-0 win versus Birmingham City in the Carabao Cup in August. Since then, he has been a constant feature on the Fulham bench for their Premier League fixtures.
In addition, King was instrumental in November’s international break, commanding England’s midfield in their U19 World Cup qualifying matches, with wins against Lithuania and Bulgaria and a draw against Belgium.
King’s meteoric rise through the Fulham academy, which he has been a part of since the age of 8, did not go unnoticed by Fulham coach Silva, who first included King on the bench in February 2024. Silva remarked upon King’s ability in his post-match press conference after his debut against Brighton: “I want to say something on Josh King, he is a 17-year-old boy from our academy with a bright future."
King’s footballing talent was clear for all to see during his time at Hampton. Most memorably he scored an electric solo goal to etch the Hampton First XI into school football history in their 3-1 ESFA final victory against Shrewsbury School at the Bet365 stadium in Stoke.
In a post-match interview with HSC co-editor Vishal Saha OH (2024), King expressed his hopes for the future.
“I am playing with Fulham U18s at the moment. Next year hopefully I will play higher, and you never know, maybe you will see me on the TV at some point in the future.” A prophecy now achieved by the former Hampton First XI footballer.
King clearly impressed Silva on the Premier League stage, earning his first start later in December against Southampton, and, has amassed 126 minutes over the second half of the season.
However, King's season hasn't finished yet, as he now has the U19 European Championships to look forward to: "It's something you dream about as a kid playing for England, putting on the shirt. Hopefully, we can bring some silverware back to the country."
Whilst King’s initial goal of a first team break has been fulfilled, there is no doubt that we should expect to see plenty more from King on the biggest stage for many years to come.
BY ARUN CROWE
FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME
Arun Crowe talks to football coach Mr Kevin Finnerty on his experience coaching the beautiful game.
Football is watched, played and loved by millions across the world, and Mr Finnerty has enjoyed an eminent career, both coaching and playing the beautiful game. Over the years, he has gained a profound knowledge of coaching systems at every level, as well as a thorough understanding of what makes football well-loved and important to so many people.
"I wasn’t happy with what I saw when I took my 7-year-old son to a coaching session."
It was the motivation of helping his children fall in love with football, just as he had when he was young, that led Mr Finnerty to set up his own coaching school, assisted by the club he was playing for at the time. His purpose was to provide an enjoyable space for young players who simply wanted to develop their football. Although this is something commonly seen nowadays, with countless clubs and programmes designed for this purpose, at the time it was an innovative and unique concept which attracted hundreds of children, and even caught the eye of the Minister of Sport at the time, Tony Banks. Banks visited the school and asked Mr Finnerty for advice, before relaying these words to the House of Commons in front of the country’s leading politicians.
Since then, Mr Finnerty has worked in many roles, imparting his knowledge of the game – as a coach in Premier League clubs such as Fulham and Brentford, as well as coaching the Women’s First team at AFC Wimbledon. Currently, he develops young players at Hampton, and also works at the FA as a coach mentor. He constantly adapts his lessons and philosophies, ensuring they remain in tandem with the everevolving game. He recognises this as crucial, citing the changes France made to their youth development, which led to the emergence of their World Cup winning team.
Mr Finnerty is also helping the FA to update and streamline their approach to developing players, as they look to introduce a new programme in the 2026-27 season called ‘Future Fit’, which encourages small-sided games, with the hope of enhancing ball-playing ability from a young age. This is also a key element of Hampton’s football philosophy’, especially in the younger years.
Given Mr Finnerty’s experience in coaching both junior and senior players, he compared the training of the two: "There are some similarities. There is still an element of player development because the good players have a desire to continually improve within the team framework. They challenge themselves. The best players want to be tested and often put themselves up against other good players at training so they can improve."
Despite having jobs at many levels, this is one key denominator which Mr Finnerty has identified, as the best players are always looking to enhance and refine their game. It is this resilience and determination, while often overlooked by some, that Mr Finnerty believes are the most important characteristics in young footballers, stating that "attitude comes before ability."
Both on the pitch and in training, the individual skills of a player are second to their reaction to a teammate losing the ball, their technique is only as impressive as their willingness to improve, looking at themselves before blaming external factors. This is a trait that can be carried through a player’s entire football career, as well as their life, as it underpins the constant need to adapt, as Mr Finnerty explains, "If you don’t do that you will become outdated, go backwards and eventually fail."
This is one of the countless reasons football is loved by so many around the world, and is important for both cultures and countries, something that hasn't changed for generations. It provides obvious health benefits which cannot be underestimated, alongside important social benefits, as it helps young people learn the importance of teamwork. It provides invaluable life lessons which can’t be much better taught than out on the pitch.
And thus, the best coaches are often discerned not solely by their results, but by their ability to develop their students as people as well as players.
"My advice to any young player is always be respectful, be willing to learn, and always try your very best to improve."
U16A Overcome Strong Ibstock side in 4-2 victory by Alex Watson
Hampton's U16A footballers went into their match against Ibstock Second XI expecting a comfortable win, so being 2-0 down after 20 minutes was not the start they had in mind. After spurning several early opportunities, an error at the back from Hampton gave Ibstock the perfect chance to go 1-0 up against the run of way, which they duly took. Not long after, a looping cross towards the back post was headed home powerfully by Ibstock's right winger.
After several substitutions, Hampton finally managed to cut the deficit to a single goal, with Finley Milner latching onto a Balti Birts through-ball just before half time and cooly slotting home under the legs of the keeper.
The U16A team began the second half with newfound energy.
REPORTS
It wasn’t long before a dangerous cross from Milner was headed home bravely by Charlie Moffatt, and, soon after, Alessandro Cardinale headed home from close range to give Hampton the lead for the first time.
Thanks to some great work from captain and goalkeeper Seb Rautenberg, matched by some resolute second half defending, Hampton managed to hold on to their lead, although they were unlucky not to score a few more goals themselves.
With the game drawing to a close, pressure from forward Adam Malik caused the Ibstock keeper to spill the ball at the feet of Alex Watson for a simple finish to make the final score 4-2.
A good start to the season for the U16As with two wins from two games, but tougher tests are yet to come.
U13As scrape through to ESFA third round in a thriller by Theo Payne
On a cold Monday, the U13As faced a strong Teddington side in the second round of the ESFA Cup. The match promised to be a high scorer, with Teddington getting off the mark early when a wayward pass was duly pounced on by the opposition’s striker. Momentum was with the visitors.
Hampton responded well, with regular counter attacks threatening to level the game. Their persistence paid off, as left winger Oscar Connell calmly slotted the ball past the 'keeper, to level the game. Hampton added their second after midfielder Rafi Berry received the ball just outside the penalty area, shifting it to his right foot, and firing it past the 'keeper into the top right corner. Against the run of play, Teddington converted a penalty after their left winger was brought down in the box. The match was perfectly poised going into the break at two goals apiece.
After the break, striker Jasper Townley latched onto a precise through ball from Connell, finishing in the bottom corner with ease. Tension was mounting and the home support building when a late challenge by Teddington gave Hampton the chance to seal the victory from the spot. However, the Teddington 'keeper made an outstanding save.
Meanwhile, down the other end of the pitch, the stellar Hampton resistance was broken when a corner swung in from the left, and a scuffle in front of goal resulted in a goal. The match was on a knife edge at 3-3 and normal time played out as a stalemate, with no side wanting to give away a goal.
With a place in the third round at stake, both teams settled in for extra time. With the crowd growing larger, the footballers wearing black and yellow made one final surge for victory. Extra time was played largely in Teddington’s half, with Hampton threatening but failing to create any significant chances. As the final whistle blew, penalties became a reality.
Both teams huddled together, minutes away from competing in the intimidating shootout. The penalty takers were named, the 'keepers prepared, the players linked arms and hoped. Teddington opted to take the first penalty. 'Keeper Charles Brain made a vital and potentially match winning save. A roar went up among the Hampton faithful. Neil Menon calmly converted Hampton's opener. Both teams traded goals in the next two rounds, with Berry and JJ Osborne scoring for Hampton. Teddington kept pace, but Connell extended Hampton’s lead with a composed finish. Despite Teddington scoring their final penalty, Hampton held the advantage.
The Hampton captain, Thomas Young, stepped up to take the final spot kick. If he scored, Hampton won. If he missed, it was sudden death. He placed the ball on the spot and took three steps back. The crowd was hushed by a cold wind that whistled across the pitch. He took three assured strides. Bang! The net rippled. The crowd erupted. The Hampton players surged forward, full of joy and jubilation, their hard work validated in one strike. Victory was sealed. The ecstatic U13As were heading to the ESFA Cup third round.
