Round Up of News
GOOD START BY FIRST TEAM INDOORS
The first team, missing 7 players out in Argentina with GB and others with work and family commitments, finished the first weekend of the English Indoor Hockey League in second place. Three good wins over Canterbury, Clifton and Trojans and a surprise narrow loss to Ipswich put the side behind Slough who won all four matches.
Lauren Turner celebrated her call up to England seniors for matches against Scotland by scoring the bulk of Leicester's goals. In the New Year, on return from Barcelona, Leicester will play four further matches - a tougher batch in many senses against Slough, Bowdon Hightown, Chelmsford and Olton. Two more wins ought to see Leicester in the top four and a place at Hockey's Big Night In to be played at Trent FM Arena in Nottingham. That would be the first time Leicester has qualified for these prestigious finals since the change in format several years ago. Whether Leicester can return to the glory days of the National Indoor win in 1978 remains to be seen and much may depend on which of the club's GB contingent will be allowed to play.
LEICESTER'S GB MAGNIFICENT 7
Leicester players constitute an amazing 7 of the current GB squad playing 5 Tests in Salta, Argentina. After a disappointing 5-1 loss in the first Test (Leicester's Beckie Herbert scoring a consolation) the side bounced back to compete well before losing 2-0 in the 2nd with Crista Cullen coming close to scoring. The team improved again for the 3rd Test and led 2-0 before eventually going down 4-3. None of the Leicester girls got on the scoresheet but not for want of trying.
Leicester stars feature heavily in the current issue of England Hockey magazine. Kerry Williams and Crista Cullen were two of the five England women used in a very glamorous photo shoot for England Hockey's rebranding. Adidas kit, three lions on my shirt and the strap line of 'Passion. Speed. Respect.' add to a sassy new image for England's men and women.
You will also see a letter from me having a dig at the Autumn issue which had little or no coverage of women's hockey. This time, perhaps as a result but they would never say so, there is probably a fraction more on the women's game and lots of pictures featuring Leicester or our players. Crista is a Page 3 girl, Laura page 4, Crista again page 5, my letter is page 12 and we are talked about re indoor on page 16.
Kerry gets a mention on page 20 and some good praise on page 21. You can catch a glimpse of Chris Mayer on page 24 and lots of Kerry and Crista on pages 26-31 in their photo shoot. Ex player Helen Richardson is featured on pages 32-33 and comments on not returning to Leicester "It's just the travel..."
Crista is the main picture on a big ad for Champions Trophy (38) and Jules is pictured on page 60 in an article on the Women's Cup reaching the quarter finals. Not bad eh? You can read the magazine online at www.englandhockey.co.uk or wait until after Christmas when my copy will be behind the counter at LGS.
FOURTHS STRUGGLE
The 4ths have played two more matches in December losing 1-0 to Melton and 3-0 to Ashby. These are trying times for the young side in the grip of a bad run and a loss of confidence. The side matched Melton for much of that game but left one player unmarked on the top of the D and she finished in some style. Against League leaders, Ashby, the team again fought hard. Shorn of players bolstering the 5ths or struck down by bugs, the young side battled throughout and never gave up.
Meanwhile, over in Grantham, just 8 regular fifth teamers helped out by Abi Williams and Gaynor Nash, performed superbly to win 3-1. Abi Williams opened the scoring from close range but Grantham fought back to equalise. Leicester went ahead through a Nash penalty corner before Sumera Kasuji scored the clinching goal. Much jubilation ensued to ensure that the 5ths go into the break feeling a little more confident.