Hockey EPT19 Arrives For Academy Boys!

It’s been two years in the planning, but it has finally arrived for the Academy Hockey boys at Banbridge Academy. A total of 24 invited players alongside staff will take on 6 games in a 7 day elite performance trip to Holland and Germany from 21-27 August 2019.

The aim of the tour, led by Mr Cordner alongside Mr Walker, was to develop a solid core to take on the cream of the European sides at U16 level with the Academy 15s. A tough ask with a huge emphasis on pupil, parents and sponsors to support the objective. Targets set away from the pitch meant the required finances had to be mustered from within and a collective push now culminates with the six game series taking on the best opponents like Rotterdam, Klein Zwitserland and Crefelder.

“ Make no bones about it – this is a phenomenal ask for our boys regardless of their success last season.” commented Cordner.

“The parents, sponsors and wider community have been tremendous to get us over the line financially, so it’s important we ensure the utmost performance wise on the pitch”

Collaborative partnerships involving Banbridge Hockey Club, University of Ulster at Jordanstown and ABC Council, have added significant improvements to the level of elite exposure the group has had. The 24 strong squad will rotate on a daily basis, but with morning and afternoon sessions prior to evening fixtures, there will be no time for site-seeing and relaxing.

The Academy welcome William Moore (S&C), Joel Cathcart (Coach) and Jamie Wilson (Communications Mentor) to the EPT19 staffing to work alongside Cordner and Walker.

We wish the boys well.