BGS student Ben P enjoyed a fantastic debut for the U16 national hockey team after successfully undergoing his England assessment.
Ben, who plays for Ben Rhydding Hockey Club, scored a goal in his first match for England against The Armed Forces, following his selection for the U16 squad.
Ben said it had been a long-held ambition to play for England and he was hoping to forge a long-term career in hockey.
“I couldn’t be happier about being selected,” he said. “I didn’t even have trials last year, which was a disappointment, so it makes me feel so much better. The hockey hasn’t been the hardest part though. Being from further north, I didn’t know many of the players, which means I’ve had to adapt to a new environment, but I’ve also gained some new friends, who I’ll be staying in touch with for a long time.”
Ben, who is in Year 11, has been playing hockey since he was in Year 3, and says the hockey on offer at BGS has given him a distinct advantage compared with other schools.
“It’s been great to have the opportunity to play hockey here which has given me an advantage over other players,” he said. “The school supports me off the pitch as well. Staff let me do my schoolwork in the library during games lessons when I need to rest for future sessions, which helps with my academics and with the busy schedule which comes with playing hockey. There’s also the athletic development programme at BGS, which helps with my strength, fitness and injury prevention.”
Following a training camp in late December, Ben faced his first international game against The Armed Forces later in the month.
David Birch, Specialist Sports Coach Hockey, who’s a graduate of the Great Britain Hockey Advanced Coaching Programme, said: “We are all immensely proud of Ben. He’s worked extremely hard over the last few years to get to where he is. Having worked with Ben in a few environments now, it’s clear how much he loves hockey. He is often quiet off a hockey pitch but when we’ve begun training or got into a game, he really finds his own and shows immense passion in everything he does on the pitch.
“Ben is in a very strong position, playing regular National League hockey for Ben Rhydding HC and now playing for England while also getting ready for GCSEs. He has a strong support network around him to ensure he’s able to maintain an exceptional level of performance while staying on top of academic work.
“Ben tends to not give too much away when asked questions about his hockey, but his dad did tell me that he played well in his England debut and even managed to score his first goal for England! A positive start for Ben and we’re all behind him for the remainder of the England cycle.”
“It’s been great to have the opportunity to play hockey here which has given me an advantage over other players.”
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