Bishop’s Stortford compete in Back to Hockey Cup at Lee Valley Hockey Centre

Bishop’s Stortford competed in the inaugural Back to Hockey Cup at the Lee Valley Hockey Centre.

The team won one match, drew two and suffered narrow defeats in their other three outings.

Back to Hockey is a summer programme aimed at lapsed players, some of whom had not played for 25 years. It ran every Sunday from June ahead of the Paris Olympics.

More than 30 players attended the training in Stortford which enabled them to take a large squad to play in the seven-a-side tournament at a venue where the FIH Pro League had taken place earlier this year.

Stortford began with a 1-0 victory over Old Loughtonians before losing 3-2 and 2-1 against younger sides from East London and Wapping respectively.

A 1-0 defeat at the hands of Blackheath followed before they played out goalless draws with both Waltham Forest and London Wayfarers.

“The squad really enjoyed the opportunity to play at such a prestigious venue,” said Stortford’s Back to Hockey coach Richard Temple. The results didn’t necessarily go our way, however the performance level was high.

“I congratulate the players – some of whom are returning to their games over 40 years of age – on showing the courage to embrace a return to the sport and committing to attending the programme.

“We very much hope they join the club for the new season. We are running seven men’s teams and have increased the ladies’ section to 10 adult Saturday teams.”