Head of Hockey, Mr Adam Ling, looks back on the season:

With younger boys regularly being selected for the School’s most senior teams, it is clear that John Lyon’s newest Major Sport is continuing to catch pupils’ imaginations

Hockey is thriving at John Lyon and as we are finally able to complete a season which now seems so long ago, we can reflect on another significant step towards our goal of creating a School Sport that rivals Football and Cricket in terms of competition, success and pupil participation.

Although the season was cut slightly short, pupils enjoyed over 70 fixtures, with an increase in numbers now taking part; newly created B teams at U14 and U15 netted victories in all of their games which is a positive step to creating depth within our squads.

The U14As displayed the most notable success, by winning the 2020 Middlesex Cup in February. This is the first time the School has entered the competition, and coupled with the U13s, who were runners-up in their competition, it demonstrates just how far
we have come in the past four years, since Hockey was first played here.

Statistically, the U15As were the most successful across the course of the season, winning five of their nine games. Notable victories against Berkhamsted, Westminster and Chigwell have made them a real force. Three Year 10 players – Ali Malik, William
Mitchell and Taranvir Bansal — all regularly represented the 1st XI and this bodes well for the future.

Our Junior teams continue to thrive and whilst some still enter Year 7 having played no form of competitive Hockey, results would suggest otherwise. Both the U12A and U13A won over half their games, as did the B teams. We are gradually increasing the depth of talent within squads, which will assist their development, particularly as the Year 8s move to 11-a-side next season.

“Whilst Hockey in some schools is on the decline, it has been refreshing to see the positive attitude of the boys who continue to commit to the development of our programme. I would like to thank everyone involved for their hard work and commitment to what was another very successful season.