England Hockey Futures Cup

England Hockey's Futures Cup is the flagship event in the player development pathway organised by England Hockey.  The event is a fantastic opportunity for young players to launch their hockey career and experience what it is like to take part in a top international hockey tournament.

All the young players at The Futures Cup are aged between 15 and 18, and have been training hard at their Junior Regional Performance Centres (JRPC). From each of the 4 clusters of centres teams are selected at both Under 16 and under 18 to compete in the Futures representing the Wessex Leopards, the Mercia Lynx, the Pennine Pumas or the Saxon Tigers.

As well as gaining vital competitive experience, the Futures Cup offers players an opportunity to showcase their skills and abilities to the National Age Group (NAG) U16 and U18 coaches, who will be in attendance and looking for the best and brightest to represent England.

Kieran Bedford from NULC was selected as a goalkeeper for the Midlands (Mercia Lynx) under 18 boys team.

The squad of players met at Wednesday lunchtime at the team hotel in Walsall, settled in and then went to Cannock Hockey Club for an intensive training session. There was a match each day and then sessions run by the coaches which used video analysis to evaluate individual and team performance after each game.

Kieran played in the first game against Pennine Pumas, which Mercia Lynx won 4-1, and in the third game which they won 2-1 with Kieran making some excellent saves to ensure a spot in the final. Mercia Lynx were the eventual tournament winners, beating Wessex Tigers 4-2 in the final.

 

Kieran’s performances were recognised by not only his own coaches and players who voted him player of the tournament, but his excellent performance was recognised by the National Age Group coaches and he has been invited to the England Under 18 Assessment Camp at the end of November.