With junior members registered on a first-come-first-served basis in some sections and a total junior membership approaching 300, the pitches (and coaches!) were busy from 9am till 3.30pm.

Action began at 9am at College Meadow under the enthusiastic guidance of Head Coach Sam Djavit, with mixed u6s, a booming mixed u8s group and boys u10s having the honour of getting the junior season underway.

An important new face was also present at College Meadow: Danny Osborne, specialist goal keeping coach, getting used to the set up in preparation for working with budding Maddie Hinches and George Pinners in the coming weeks.

At 9.30, the girls sessions at Colfe's School, with Head Coach Laxman Karan at the helm, joined the action. Girls u10, u12 and u14 sections are all currently full. The girls brought the curtain down on the first session of the season, the u16s finishing at 3.30pm.

A big thank you to the Head coaches, section leads and assistants (parent coaches, senior club players and older juniors), as well as the junior management team, without whom none of this would be possible.

There are ambitious plans to continue to improve the quality of what we deliver in the junior club. In addition to new specialist goal keeping session, coach development will get underway soon, coach recruitment continues and plans to trial weekday evening academy sessions to stretch our most experienced players are in the pipeline.

We are always interested to hear from anyone who would like to get involved: coaches (experienced or just wanting to learn), managers or fundraisers (or funders!) - please get in touch.

If you, or your child, wants to play (even in the full groups) let us know; we'll do our best to deliver a fun 2018-19 hockey season.