watching good hockey!!
You may be able put in some nice clean tackles or even "silk it up" in front of goal, but have you seen how the Internationals and National League players do it??
Hockey on TV
After years of campaigning, the larger international tournaments are finally appearing on TV - Usually Eurosport. Check out the FIH and England hockey websites for dates of International tournaments and they may be televised - Check Eurosport, BBC and UK TV Gold for the digital viewers amoungst you. Failing that, the FIH website has a WorldHockey.tv section which shows games if you have broadband and speakers.
This year the Hockey World Cup takes place - 6 - 17 September for the Men in Monchengladbach, Germany and 27 September - 8 October for the Ladies in Madrid, Spain - Click here for more international tournaments
English National League Hockey & Indoor
If you like a bit of fresh air with your hockey viewing, there are several teams worth watching without having to travel miles - Cannock, Bath Buccaneers, Firebrands (Bristol) and Reading Mens hockey clubs all play National League & H.A. cup games on a Sunday. Ladies National League is played on a Saturday. Clifton and Firebrands are both in Bristol. Fixtures can be found on the England Hockey website
For something a bit different, you may like to see the National League Indoor championships at the NIA in Birmingham. It's generally held in February and tickets go very quickly once they are advertised. However, games are now being televised if you don't get tickets. The top 4 mens and ladies sides from the National League indoor premier division play each other, plus the boys and girls U16 and U18 final is also played. Its always a really good atmosphere and interesting to see such a different style of hockey.
International Tournaments Abroad
If you'd like to go further afield, why not check out England in some of the International tournaments being played abroad. The larger ones are often played on the outskirts of major cities (like Club de Campo, Madrid or Amstelveen, just outside Amsterdam) so you can combine it with a city break.
England hockey can often provide an address for you to be able to search for the location of a tournament to see if it's worth visiting. You generally need to purchase tickets for games, which can sometimes be done in advance for very large tournaments, or on the gate when you arrive. Be aware that for countries like Germany, Spain and the Netherlands, hockey is a professional sport and games are supported quite well. Don't assume you'll be sitting there on your own with your England flag!!
Push Hockey Magazine
There is a new hockey magazine out called Push! It's a pretty substantial and readable glossy mag out 6 times per year.
There are articles about International hockey, coaching and tips for players in goal and out as well as information about hockey around the country and fun stuff about tour hockey. It's obviously written by proper journalists rather than Mr Hockey from his local club writing about his latest feelings about the game these days which makes the annual sum of £25 more bareable.
If you'd like to subscribe, check out their website http://www.pushhockey.co.uk/v/index.asp. But if you think that £25 is a bit steep, there is a free e-newsletter.
Useless Facts
- Stroud Hockey Club is nearly 80 years old!
- The modern game of hockey was developed as an alternative to football for cricketers looking for a winter sport in the mid-1800s.
- Stroud has nurtured many players that have gone on to play National League and even for England!
- Field hockey today is recognised as second most played sport in the world behind Football.
- Simon Mason, most capped player for England & GB, started his career at Stroud.
- Teddington Hockey Club helped to develop the game by introducing a sphere to replace the rubber cube!
Simon Mason says Stroud Hockey Club is great!
Simon Mason, current England and GB men’s hockey goalkeeper, started his playing career at Stroud Hockey Club. He enjoyed the experience so much that he came back to speak at the Club’s annual dinner & dance, held this year at Hatton Court Hotel, Upton St Leonards, on 26th April 2003.
To a delighted audience of nearly 90 current and retired Stroud players, Simon entertained them with tales of his early days as a Stroud player, his experiences as a junior England international, and his obvious thrill at being part of the Olympic games in both 1996 and 2000. Anyone aiming for an international hockey ranking needs to be prepared for a gruelling 22 hours a week training, and 3 months living out of a suitcase as at least 50% of fixtures are played overseas.
The dinner dance was the culmination of the Stroud Club’s annual hockey day, this year being particularly special as the club is celebrating its 75th birthday. The day commenced with a Stroud Ladies’ side playing a ladies’ touring team from Olney in Buckinghamshire. Both sides played with great spirit, the emphasis being on enjoyment rather than mere competitiveness. Following that, those men still under 35 years of age played the older ones, some of whom are propping up the current 1st XI, and others of whom have moved on to pastures new. The on-pitch entertainment ended with a fun intra-club mixed match.