On Saturday 21st May, Beeston Hockey Club Ladies 1sts will travel to Lee Valley Hockey Centre at the Olympic Park to compete in the Tier 1 National Cup final.
The Nottingham based side will face fellow Premier Division side Buckingham at 6pm. The two sides will take to the field and do battle as they attempt to win hockey’s top cup competition.
With only three top level trophies available in England, Beeston are hoping to win the National Cup for only the second time in their history, after a first win back in the 2019/2020 competition.
5th in the Premier Division was the highest the side has ever finished, and a cup win would top of a highly successful season and make it, without question, the most successful season in the history of Beeston Ladies 1sts.
The Beeston side will include three former Buckingham players with Sophie Robinson and Ella Cusack both having stints at the club as well as Goalkeeper Steph Tirrell who moved from Buckingham in the summer.
On the move to Beeston and playing against her former side Steph Tirrell said of the game, “Buckingham will be a difficult task to face and their pedigree is well known.
Having been part of their set up for three years prior to joining the bees and represented them in several finals and play-offs I know that they’ll be well drilled, exceptionally motivated and a tough team to face at Lee Valley”
Beeston Head Coach James Sordillo said of the final, “it should be a great game. It will be an interesting clash with some intriguing player match ups. It should be a fun one for the crowd.
Buckingham are a good side that have a lot of experience. They move the ball well and are physical, they will be a tough challenge but I am happy with how we have prepared and I know the group will go in with the right mindset to match the challenges Buckingham pose”
Beeston played Buckingham once in the league season where the Nottingham side ran out 4-0 winners. The league split at Christmas and with Beeston in the top half and Buckingham in the bottom half the sides didn’t face each other again.
Sordillo commented “We played Buckingham in preseason and got a good feel for what they are about and then applied that well in the league game. But after the league split Buckingham went on a brilliant run to avoid relegation and will be full of confidence so I don’t see those games coming into things”
Beeston have reached the final after a comfortable win over Loughborough University, a quarter final against Stourport and a semi-final win over Premier Division rivals Clifton Robinsons. Buckingham are yet to play a side above the third tier on their run to the final and Beeston will be their first Premier Division opposition since the league ended, and their first Top 6 Premier Division side since before Christmas.
*Main image @OfficialBeeHC Beeston Women have a chance for silverware this weekend.
