News from Formby Hockey Club 5 April 2006
Teenagers Kate Hesketh and Will Miles have been crowned Young Players of the Year by Formby Hockey Club.
Kate, 17, helped Formby Ladies first team to become champions of the North Women’s Hockey Feeder League West, after winning almost all of their matches.
They are now promoted into the North Women’s Hockey League Division 1 for the first time.
Meanwhile Will made a huge impact in his first full season with the men’s first team, helping them to win the Lancashire Cup and finishing eighth in the National League North Division.
Will played for the England under-18s in Dublin in February and is captain of Merchant Taylors Boys School hockey team. He has played at Formby from the age of nine, progressing through junior coaching and then through the boys’ teams – Badgers and Beavers – and the four men’s teams.
“Last summer I worked hard to improve my fitness and put a lot of effort into my training to earn a place in the first team. It’s been a good end to the season for us after a run of bad luck with lots of players being injured,” said Will.
“When my name was called out as Young Men’s Player of the Year I was surprised, I was expecting one of the younger lads to win it, so I was pleased.”
Will has applied to study Maths at the University of Manchester in September – staying near to home so that he can continue to play for Formby.
For Kate, who has played at Formby for just three years, winning the Young Women’s Player of the Year award was ‘fantastic’.
“I was really excited and so happy, I couldn’t believe it – it was fantastic!” said Kate, a pupil at Ormskirk School.
“I only started playing hockey in Year 7 at school and came to Formby three seasons ago to join the newly formed third team. This has been my first full season in the first team and it’s been brilliant, I have learned a lot and it was amazing to experience winning the championship.”
Other Players of the Year award winners at Formby’s annual presentation event were:
Beavers – Sam Mackarell; Badgers – Adam Baker; Ladies 4th – Caroline Gladwin; Ladies 4th Most Improved – Claire Lyons; Men’s 4th – Adam Farrell; Men’s 4th Most Improved – Ned Squire; Ladies 3rd – Stephanie Leonard; Men’s 3rd – Jason Chan; Ladies 2nd – Emily Hopkins; Men’s 2nd – Nick Waddilove; Ladies 1st – Alison Woods; Men’s 1st – Danny Scott.
Grateful thanks were expressed to umpires Phil Whalley, Alan Biggs, Colin Moulton, John Pearce and Mike Leddy; coaches Marc Bourhill, Clare Seddon and Vicki Haselhurst; helpers Stan and Brenda Bourhill; and parents and supporters.
Photo caption: Kate Hesketh and Will Miles celebrate their Young Player of the Year Awards at Formby Hockey Club.