Hockey (Boys)
Magazine Articles
Banbridge Academy Magazine 2021-2022: Boys Hockey Article
Banbridge Academy Magazine 2022-2023: Boys Hockey Article
Boys’ Hockey has been an integral part of Banbridge Academy from its origin in 1904. The Hockey tradition is one of excellence and is famous the length and breadth of Ireland for our schools attacking and passionate style of Hockey.
This appetite for the game has been locally recognised by the Banbridge District Sports Association on no less than six occasions in the past decade with the Boys picking up “Youth Team of the Year” in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2012. This important recognition from the local community was taken to National status in 2010 when Academy Hockey was awarded the “Belfast Telegraph Local Heroes Award” for achieving the Clean Sweep of All 7 Ulster Titles.
This success in Ulster has been matched by holding the crown of Irish Schools Winners in 1992, 2006, 2010 and 2011 and representing Ireland at the European Finals in the Netherlands. The school is this year’s only school to be nominated at the Irish Hockey Associations “Hockey School of the Year” Awards, again highlighting our standard of coaching, facilities and the general emphasis of excellence through tradition.
The players and staff are fully dedicated to the game of Hockey and strive to maintain our role in Ulster Hockey’s development as a whole. We have produced a total of 27 players since the year 2000 and continue to support those players that leave our school by retaining their ethics as coaches to junior sides.
Matches and Competitions
Our school sides start at Year 8 level and continue to Senior Year 14, with U12/13/14/15/2ndX1 and 1stX1 teams competing almost every Saturday from August to April.
The Academy plays only the strongest opposition on both sides of the border to ensure quality challenges for emerging players. The Senior 1stx1 compete in The Irish Schools, The Ulster Schools McCullough Cup and The Ulster Schools Burney Cup.
The Senior 2ndX1 are the only Ulster schools side to face other schools 1stX1 in the McCullough Cup, a sign of the focus placed not always on winning but indeed developing and testing the character of rising players. The 2ndX1 also compete in the Ulster Schools Dowdall Cup.
The U15 side compete in the Ulster Schools Richardson Cup and are current holders on ten occasions since the year 2000. They are joined as Ulster winners by the U14 side that defend the Ferris Cup while the Academy U12 and U13 sides both aim to win the Ulster Schools Bannister Bowl.
All sides play on Saturdays in order to maximise each player’s contribution to life both in the classroom and on the field of play. We enjoy close links with local hockey clubs in the wider area and are extremely fortunate to have our own astro facility developing on site.