16/07/2025
UK Lions Tournament Trophy winners 2025
Yes it’s that really important time - after a few days of self congratulation and reflection - to say thank you to everyone who has contributed to our success!
First, and most importantly the travelling Management/Coaching team, Nadz, Andrew and Rhea, without whose efforts at Nottingham we would probably never even have made it on to the pitch!
Not to forget those who helped with the coaching of the numerous training sessions going back as far as last September - Colin Ball, with his expert goalkeeping advice, Ben Goddard, who has now learnt how to take a warm up amongst many other things and who did us all proud by his umpiring contributions at Nottingham, Ellie McMaster, Nick Tout, Pete Wiles and Jamie Fowler for helping lead sessions and Kiera Falla, Tegan Harris and Tilly Wimshurst who helped feed balls, collect in equipment and generally act as inspiration for the players by passing on their previous Solent experiences and to Beth Kent who did so, so much of the preliminary admin and organisation work over the course of the year.
To Dr Zoe Wimshurst and Performance Vision for her advice on sports psychology and how it needs to be presented to this age group in particular. I personally would thank her for all her scientific vision research which we have been integrating into our training and game play. This is unique in our sport and throughout the hockey world - take note England Hockey!
To Paul Wallis and his team at the Sport and Exercise Department of Chichester University for their fitness testing and advice.
To Chichester HC for the use of the Kingsham pitch.
To Matt and Becca at Game, Set and Match for sourcing and producing all the kit.
To all our sponsors; Woods Chartered Surveyors for the tracksuits, J J Li Ltd (Joe) for the T-Shirts, the Eighty 6 Building Group (Steve) for the Keeper smocks, an anonymous sponsor for the Wacky Solent Sox and, last but by no means least, the Atkins Foundation for tying it all together and donating about a £1000 to the whole project!
