Archbishop Blanch School in Liverpool has been encouraging pupils to pick up a hockey stick with its thriving partnership with Liverpool Sefton Hockey Club.
The partnership, established in September when the school unveiled brand new sports facilities including a top of the range astro pitch, has allowed the girls’ development in hockey to flourish.
Working with coaches at Sefton Hockey Club, the pupils have seen their standards grow to competitive levels and many have progressed on to the Junior Sefton team.
Since the partnership was created, pupils have worked with Peter Nicholson, former GB and England manager and Senior Club coach for Liverpool Sefton Hockey Club and also had the opportunity to meet GB international and top goal scorer Tina Cullen.
The school has a strong history of producing top class hockey players, last year former sixth former Helen Harper become the first English student to be awarded a scholarship to study at Kent State University in Ohio and develop her ability in the sport.
Future hockey stars could include Archbishop Blanch girls Daisie Beardwood, Kate Bull, Megan Clark, Hannah Darken, Janey Fairbrother, Niamh Milburn, Heidi Morris, Sophie Morris, Libby Richards, Megan Roberts and Jade Weir who have all been handpicked for the Junior Sefton Under 12 and Under 14 teams.
With so much success already, the school-club partnership is keen to grow and help develop future hockey stars. Next season, pupils will train with the adult teams and play in league matches for the first time.
Heather Duggan, Headteacher at Archbishop Blanch, says: “The partnership with Liverpool Sefton Hockey club has been hugely beneficial to our pupils. Training with the city’s top coaches is a unique experience and the girls have displayed great ability and lots of passion for the sport.
“None of this would be possible without our outstanding new sports facilities and we are very excited to play host to the hockey club for their future training sessions and matches.”
