The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Former England international Matt Taylor has paid tribute to Spalding Hockey Club after overseeing another hugely successful summer camp last week.
Glen Park, Spalding’s Surfleet-based home, played host to the sixth annual Matt Taylor Summer Hockey Camp – with close to 50 youngsters put through their paces by the former international and his team of coaches on Thursday and Friday.
Taylor, who has also been Director of the University of Nottingham Hockey programme since 2010, is widely regarded as one of the top domestic hockey coaches in the United Kingdom.
The young players, aged from nine to 17 years, were coached in their age groups in a wide range of skills through the two days with the experienced coaches offering assistance with technical aspects of the game.
There were also small sided games and fun sessions interspersed with the skills programme.
Taylor and his team selected four of the group for their outstanding contribution and progress over the two days.
Spalding’s Millie Hastings received the top award of an Osaka hockey stick with additional awards being made to Norah Brill (Bourne/Deeping HC) Barnie Dring and Harry Blackman (both Spalding HC)
Taylor said: “I thought the camp was the best we’ve done.
“The kids were great and fully engaged with what we asked them to do and delivered to a very high level indeed.
“So keep doing what you at Spalding Hockey Club are doing to coach your young players, as it’s obviously paying off.
“The weather was certainly kind to us and it was great to see the players continue to give 100 per cent – even in the extreme heat of Friday afternoon.”
