End of Season Awards Event!

Winchester Cathedral Refectory - 27 April, 5.15pm to 6.30pm

We are delighted to be hosting an event to celebrate the season for the junior section. Many of our groups have had notable successes this season, and the section as a whole has gone from strength to strength. We will start with a run down of junior section developments and then each age group will give a brief review of the season and make a few player awards.

We hope that as many players and parents as possible can attend. There is a small charge to cover a welcome drink for all. Please book your place on Teamo - see the calendar entry on 27th April.

Easter Holiday Camps

U10s - 5th April, U12/U14 - 3rd and 4th April

We are pleased to announce we will be once again running some Easter Hockey camps! Tickets can also be booked via Teamo, if you scroll down the calendar to April.

2024 / 2025 Planning

Over the last few years, we have offered more and more hockey opportunities to our young players, including our outreach programme, holiday camps, additional age group training slots and our talent development initiatives. Our coaches and managers have done a fantastic job making training fun and engendering tremendous team spirit. As a result, our player numbers have steadily increased such that certain age groups have been “full”, with numbers restricted primarily by pitch space. This season we have offered an introductory group new players who could not be accommodated in their age group.

Looking ahead to 2024-25, we are looking to increase the capacity of the age groups which are experiencing exceptional demand, in particular the U10 and U12 girls groups. As we already have more members than can be accommodated under the arrangements, and expect continued growth in new membership enquiries, we will be restructuring these groups from September. You can access an outline of these plans for U10s here and U12 girls here, and more details will be sent to relevant members before the start of next season. In order to deliver these plans, we will need many volunteers to assist with coaching, management and other administrative matters. If you are not currently involved, and are interested in doing so, please speak with one of the current managers or coaches.

U16 Boys

vs Alton - 6-3

There was a distinct relaxed end of season feel to the occasion as the boys gathered for a pre-social friendly against a strong Alton team. Players from both sides were in great spirits and keen to showcase their skills, and it was from an early aerial pass that Monty opened the scoring with a clinical finish. Proceedings became a little chaotic for a while as the players took the friendly nature of the game as an excuse to stop working hard as a team, and Alton took full advantage with two well taken counter attacking goals. It was time for the coaches to step in, remind the players of their competitive nature, no matter the seriousness of the game, and the need for some structural discipline. This had the desired effect, and as the boys started working harder and playing as a team, Winchester dominated the remainder of the game, and created multiple open field and short corner opportunities. Before long, the game was in the bag with goals from Will (2), Bertie (2) and Tom. Despite a late consolation from Alton, the boys could be well pleased with their efforts.

And so, on to the Stable in Winchester for their end of season social …. The boys enjoyed pizza and cokes, whilst some parents joined the coaches (on a separate table!) for a well earned beer.

U14 Boys

B’s vs Havant - 4-0

The final league game of the season saw Winchester U14 boys away to Havant. With unbeaten Winchester only three points ahead of Havant, who were second, there was clearly a lot at stake.

The Winchester team build-up was very different from previous games with many noticeable player absences but these gaps were filled with the next crop of boys keen to test their mettle and prove their worth by showing how next year's team will look.

There was great crowd presence from supporters from both teams in the spring sunshine and the game opened with Havant on top pushing Winchester deep into their own half.

Berty B and Oli as the back two with Berty C in goal proved more than a match and soaked up the prolonged pressure. Some good interplay through midfield saw the attackers get some break away chances but were unable to capitalise. Winchester seemed destined to repeat last week's mistake of dribbling into danger and get tackled as time and again the ball was lost in critical areas of the pitch.

However, it took just one wide pass to unlock the Havant defence as newcomer Sam D got on the end of a great through ball from Beano and then drove around behind the defence to slot home his first U14 goal at the near post. This settled Winchester’s rhythm and so, building on a strong press, Winchester pushed home the advantage of possession to score a second as Isaac drove across the D and rifled one home from the top.

2-0 going into half time and some end-of-season tired legs were starting to show however the team dug deep and got another two in the second half. One from Vinny at a short corner and one by Natt from two yards out at the back post after a wonderfully angled run from Will D wrong-footed the goalie.

Winchester U14B. finished top of South Hants Division 2 with an enviable unbeaten run. It was a great final show for those moving up to U16s next year and a tantalising glimpse of what is in store for the U14s next season.