The Cannock Hockey Blog

National League and Development Training has begun in preparation for the new season. National League runs Tuesdays 7.30pm – 10pm and Thursdays 7.30pm – 10pm. Development Squad train Thursdays 7.30pm – 10pm.

The Cannock Hockey Club Photo Library is now available online at http://www.flickr.com/cannockhockey

Email any photos to tg@leader.co.uk for inclusion

Name: Richard Lane

Age: 25

Position: Mid-field

Q. Why did you start playing hockey?

A. Well both my parents played hockey for Cannock Chase High School staff team so they inspired me to go to some coach camps and before long I was playing on Sundays under Pete Pritchard!  Aged 12 onwards I’ve been focused on hockey all the way.

Q. What is your best hockey memory?

A. Getting my first cap as an England Senior this summer playing against India. It was made even more special because we played at the University of Birmingham – where I went to uni.

Q. Why is Cannock so important to you?

A. I’ve grown up at Cannock; all my sporting success has been here at the club. The people here, all my coaches as I progressed up through the teams to the Firsts, have believed in me and inspired me to give my best.

Q. What do you want to achieve over the next 1-2 years?

A. I want to secure my place in the GB Squad for the 2012 Olympics. When I was 5 years old watching Daily Thompson at the Seoul Olympics I wanted to be competing like him – and hockey is my route to being an Olympian!

Cannock Hockey Club is pleased to announce that it will be hosting the following National Hockey events, on behalf of England Hockey, at Chase Park. Further details will be published on the website as they are received.

National Schools Girls Finals: Mon 01/03/10 – Thurs 04/03/10

EH U16 & U18 Girls and Boys Finals: Sat 10/04/10 & Sun 11/04/10

National Schools Boys Finals: Mon 19/04/10 – Thurs 22/04/10

English Hockey League Play Offs: Sat 01/05/10 – Mon 03/05/10

U17 JAC National Finals: Sat 08/05/10 & Sun 09/05/10

Welcome to the Cannock Hockey Club Blog where you will find the latest news, views and opinions from everyone at the club.

If you would like to contribute to the blog please email Tom Grocott – tg@leader.co.uk or call 01564 796200.

We’ve also launched a new Cannock Hockey Twitter account which will feature the latest scores and news from the club.  Follow us now at www.twitter.com/cannockhockey

Cannock Hockey Club recently joined forces with 5 of the top hockey clubs in the region to start a new league to develop talented youngsters in the West Midlands.

The Midlands Challenge league will see Cannock compete against the best young talent from Loughborough, Birmingham University, Leek, Stourport and Beeston.  The league was originally started to give the clubs second teams a chance to compete against each other but it has quickly become one of the region’s most fertile development grounds in the lead up to the Olympics in 2012.

Phil Gooderham, director of hockey said: “The Midlands has some of the most talented players in the country.  This means we can select the very best players for our first teams but sometimes that means talented youngsters don’t get the chance to compete against equally talented opponents.

Check out the Midlands Challenge website