A tradition of strong participation and success
‘Hockey all year round’
Hockey is the core sport for the girls in the Michaelmas term and for the boys in the Lent term.
However, there is the opportunity to play hockey all year round. In the Michaelmas term the College enters the senior boys and girls Indoor National Cup Competitions, and the boys have an outdoor pre-season hockey programme which runs throughout the Michaelmas term, including a pre-season tour for all age groups to Holland during the October half term.
The girls pre-season programme runs throughout the summer term and culminates in an annual late August pre-season tour to Netherlands. In addition, the girl’s 1st XI squad play in the Nottingham Festival on the first weekend of the season.
All pupils are given the opportunity to play hockey and to represent the College across all age groups and at the appropriate ability level. The College runs up to four senior teams at Year 11-13, three teams at Year 10 and four teams at Year 9, with fixtures against other schools in the South East on Saturdays and National Cup competitions midweek.
In addition to the National Indoor Schools Championship, the College enters the boys and girls England School Hockey Championship at U14 (Yr9) and U18 (Yr10-13) age groups and the Independent Schools Hockey Cup at U19 and U15 age groups.
The College has access to three astroturf pitches. The recently re-laid pitch 1 at Beresford (BN20 8DQ) and upgraded pitch 2 at Summerdown (BN20 8BX), as well as using Saffrons Sports Club (BN21 1EA) when required.
Eastbourne College has a close association with Eastbourne Hockey Club where a number of pupils play outside of the College programme.
The very best College players are selected into the England Talent Pathway through the East Grinstead Hockey Club Talent Academy programme.
2022/23- Ella Panayiotou, Eliza Jones and Sam Bordass.
2023/24- Sam Bordass, Will Fellows and Tom Lucas. Rosie Hill, Bertie Cooke and Sophie Fellows.
Coaching
Rob Hill Director of hockey, GB hockey (40 plus caps) (Barcelona 1992)
David Miller Master-in-charge of hockey for 27 years, former Sussex and regional south east coach
Ian Sands 1st XI boys coach, Cambridge Blue and former Welsh U21 men’s coach, Sussex and South East divisional coach
Recent Successes
Girls hockey
2023/24 U18 EHA Regional Cup Semi finalist
U19 ISHC Plate Quarter finalist
2021/22 U18 EHA Plate National Champions
U19 ISHC National Plate Semi finalist
Boys hockey
2023/24 U18 ISHC plate last 16
2019/20 U18 EHA National Quarter Finalist (covid)
U19 ISHC National Cup Semi finalist (covid)
INTERNATIONAL Alumni
Sam Brooks (2012) England U18 and U21 as a goalkeeper
Rebecca O’Dwyer (2016) England Schools as a goalkeeper. Exeter Ladies 1st XI
Ben Fox (2020) England U16 and U18, Exeter Uni 1st XI, Great Britian U23 EPDG and Wimbledon HC
Tilly Fox (2022) England Schools U18, Exeter Uni Ladies 1st XI
