Hockey Captains’ Legacy to Drive Future Talent
Not quite ready to hang up their school hockey sticks, we caught up pitch-side with our 1st XI Captains and Year 13 students, Callum Richardson and Poppy Fletcher, to find out how they will leave a lasting legacy in Hockey at King’s and why they are so committed to the sport and our school’s development of talented players.
Both Callum and Poppy discovered their love of hockey during Games lessons in Years 6 and 7 at King’s. It was a whirlwind journey for both of them, soon realising their natural ability and progressing to Club hockey, playing up in age for Alderley Edge Hockey Club.
Callum recalls: “I joined King’s in Year 5 as a keen footballer. But being introduced to hockey changed my outlook quite quickly. I got hooked as it was a real buzz realising I could make an impact on the pitch for my team.”
Likewise, Poppy learned of her ability early on. She said: “I played for King’s in a Year 7 tournament and scored three goals. That was it for me, I just wanted to play more matches.”
Roll on several years of national league competing, both Callum and Poppy have achieved everything they can at Club standard and on an individual development level too. Aged just 14 and 15, the Captains played 1st XI at their Clubs, and have been consecutively selected at Regional Academy and England Pathway level, with Callum’s team being crowned National Champions at the Nottingham Tournament (Regional Academy National Hockey Championship, held in July).
Both now in their final months of A-Levels, Callum and Poppy have committed to a long-term hockey career, with University offers and BUCS (British Universities and College Sport) League Hockey-playing ambitions.
Poppy said: “I am lucky enough to have met the Newcastle University Hockey Coach throughout my academy-playing days, and he was able to lower my conditional offer to study there, with the intention to join their squad. It’s a really exciting prospect.”
Meanwhile, Callum has recently accepted the offer to join the King’s Gap Year Placement, coaching hockey across Senior age groups and the 1st XI development squad. He will then go to University to study Sports and Exercise Science with this coaching experience under his belt.
Both students were selected for the King’s Elite Athlete Pathway (KEAP), during which they have been mentored by Head Coach, Miss Sarah Hopkin, as part of their Sports education at the school.
Miss Hopkin, a former Junior England International and National Premier League player and 035 England Masters World Cup winner anticipates a strong line of inspired hockey talent developing at the school.
She said: “Callum and Poppy are shining examples of the opportunities available for dedicated hockey players at King’s. We are delighted they are leading the way, instilling qualities of resilience and hard work in the younger generations coming up the ranks. We have some great new emerging talent, with some of our Year 7, 8 and 9 pupils now training at Academy level and national level. Poppy and Callum are huge supporters of the younger players and assisting their journeys.”
“King’s remains committed to the highest quality of Sports, investing in the KEAP opportunity for talented athletes and supporting their training. Our facilities at King’s underpin our commitment to the vast variety of sports available for our pupils and local community. The newly-released plans for the Forster Pavilion will add significant value to our provision, enjoyment and support for sporting achievement. It’s a very exciting time for King’s, its pupils and families.”
Congratulations to Callum and Poppy for flying the flag for Hockey at King’s so passionately, demonstrating the rewarding prospects for other students with a flair for the game.
