- Competitions & Events
England Age Group Player Lottie Bingham Reviews The DiSE Cup
At the end of July, Lilleshall National Sports Centre hosted the DiSE Cup. This event showcased the talents of Year 12 performance hockey players enrolled in England Hockey’s Diploma in Sporting Excellence (DiSE) programme, where they engaged in competitive matches against each other and the U16 England teams, providing an exciting display of hockey.
The DiSE programme, governed by Sport England, is specifically designed to support young hockey players while they pursue full-time education alongside this complimentary programme. This collaborative effort between England Hockey and Loughborough College offers a comprehensive curriculum: occasional camps that encompass a display of technical and tactical training and personalised one-on-one sessions to work on portfolio projects, following a programme of presentations and lectures.
It serves as an invaluable platform for aspiring athletes to refine their skills, evolve as hockey players, and lay the groundwork for a promising future in the sport. The main goal of DiSE is to provide players with the chance to blend sports and education, equipping them with the necessary skills, knowledge, and qualifications to pursue a dual career.
As the year of DiSE comes to an end, numerous players passionately conveyed their appreciation for the programme. They expressed gratitude for the valuable opportunities it provided, praising the efforts of the tutors and coaches who supported their growth in both sports and education.
"The balance in this program was surprisingly manageable, making it a fantastic experience that opens up amazing opportunities even for those who don't play hockey at school," one player remarked. Another player expressed delight, saying, "Having access to a nutritionist and psychologist was a great addition to the programme and has enhanced my overall development as an athlete and individual."
Players were full of praise for the DiSE Cup, considering it a great way to wrap up a year of hard work. The competitive matches provided an excellent chance for them to showcase their understanding of the knowledge and expertise they have gained throughout the year.
Dieter Hill, England Hockey's Junior Talent Development Manager, expressed his enthusiasm about the competition. He highlighted the event as “a brilliant opportunity to provide valuable experience to the players enrolled in the DiSE programme. The inclusion of the England U16 teams, fresh from their 8 Nations experiences, added an extra layer of excitement and challenge, allowing all participants to test their abilities to the fullest.”
The DiSE Cup this year featured closely contested games. The tournament featured four squads on both the boys' and girls' sides, consisting of the White, Blue, and Red teams, along with the U16 England teams. Each team had the chance to play one match each day over three days, allowing them to demonstrate the technical and tactical knowledge they have developed with their DiSE coaches throughout the year. It was an exciting opportunity for the players to display their progress and development on the field during the tournament.
Despite the rain, the tournament provided a highly positive way to conclude this year's cycle. Both coaches and players expressed their satisfaction with the experience, noting how it enhanced their understanding of the game in a more professional context. The collective hard work and individual improvements led to some exciting and well-played hockey games, making it a memorable event for everyone involved.
In the Girls' competition, the England U16 Girls emerged as the triumphant team, while the England U16 Boys claimed the top spot as well, having lost out in 2022. The tournament witnessed some intense and hard-fought games among all the teams, showcasing their remarkable skills and determination, making it an overall successful performance for all.
Head Coach of the England U16 Girls, Don Vinson, expressed satisfaction with the team's performance, highlighting their consistent and tenacious circle defensive work that led to their success. He also praised the team's technical development in the offensive line, which contributed to their ability to score numerous goals.
Head Coach James Culnane, in charge of the England U16 Boys, commended the squad for their fantastic collective effort, noting how they remained true to their playing style, showcasing a free-flowing and attacking brand of hockey throughout the three days.
Overall, both teams displayed impressive skills and teamwork, making the camp a positive and successful conclusion to the season.
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23rd July
Red 2 – 1 Blue
Goal scorers:
Blue – Jess Lewis
Red – Katy Furber, Ruby Spavin
The tournament's opening match featured a closely contested game between the Red and Blue Girls teams. Jess Lewis of the Blue team started the game in style with an impressive drag-flick. However, the red team displayed remarkable resilience, with both Katy Furber and Ruby Spavin playing essential roles in securing a 2-1 victory, showcasing their determination and teamwork.
White 1 – 3 England U16
Goal scorers:
White – Poppy Barlow
England U16s – Biba Mills, Bryony Gillgrass, Amelie Carter
The White Girls team and the England U16 Girls team engaged in an intense showdown, where both sides demonstrated exceptional hockey skills. Poppy Barlow's impressive goal set the pace for the White team, putting them in the lead early on. The match saw several goal scorers, including Biba Mills, Bryony Gillgrass, and Amelie Carter for the England U16s, ultimately leading them to a well-deserved 3-1 victory.
24th July
Blue 3 – 1 White
Goal scorers:
Blue – Trixie Kent, Lucy Newberry, Violet Eames
White – Isabelle Jackson
Day 2 started on a high note for the Blues as they swiftly rebounded from the previous day's match, taking a commanding 3-0 lead. Trixie Trent, Lucy Newberry, and Violet Eames contributed to the impressive goal tally for the Blue team. However, the White team displayed determination and resilience, managing to narrow the gap with a goal scored by Isabelle Jackson, bringing the final score to 3-1.
England U16 vs Red Girls
England U16 4 – 0 Red
Goal scorers:
England U16s – Biba Mills 2, Bella Munoz, Martha Wong
During the second match of the day, the U16s demonstrated their expertise, netting an impressive four goals. Despite the Red Girls team putting up an extraordinary fight and creating some promising chances, the U16s took control with Biba Mills scoring two rapid drag-flicks into the backboard. Bella Munoz and Martha Wong swiftly followed suit, adding two more goals to secure their team's comfortable position.
25th July
England U16 6 – 2 Blue
Goal scorers - Blue: Amelie Nolan, Charlotte Barr
England U16s: Isy Key 2, Izzy Yonge, Biba Mills, Bryony Gillgrass, Bella Munoz
On the final day, the England U16 Girls and the Blue team started a feisty encounter, with the Blue team’s Amelie Nolan securing an early lead for her side. The first half was fiercely competitive, and both teams scored a goal each, with Isy Key for the U16s and Scottish international Charlotte Barr netting for the Blue team. In the second half, the England U16s showed great determination, scoring five impressive goals from Isy Key, Izzy Yonge, Biba Mills, Bryony Gillgrass, and Bella Munoz, ultimately securing a 6-2 victory. Despite the scoreline running away at the end, the game was a hard-fought and well-contested match, providing an exciting conclusion to the tournament.
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BOYS
23rd July
Blue 4 – 2 Red
Goal scorers:
Blue - Ben Hanson x 2 , Oliver Dixon, Edward Lord
Red – Leo Delves x 3
The Blue and Red boys teams clashed in a thrilling match that kept everyone on the edge of their seats. With goals scored by Ben Hanson (Blue) and an additional goal by Oliver Dixon (Blue), the Blues were off to a strong start. However, Leo Delves' remarkable hattrick for the Red team showcased their determination and skill. Despite their impressive performance, the Reds fell short, and the Blues emerged victorious at the end of an exciting game.
White 3 – 2 England U16
Goal scorers : U16 – Oliver Oke, Isaac Dale
White – Oliver Brannen, Thomas Gilbert, Charlie Darbyshire
Day one came to a thrilling close as another close match unfolded, resulting in an intense 3-2 victory for the White Boys team. The England U16 Boys initially held the lead with goals from Oliver Oke and Isaac Dale. However, the White Boys' determination to press on and turn the score line in their favour proved successful, with goals scored by Oliver Brannen, Thomas Gilbert, and Charlie Darbyshire, securing them a well-deserved victory.
24th July
Blue 3 – 2 White
Goal scorers:
White – Charlie Brooks, Charlie Darbyshire
Blue – Ben Hanson, Jack Hobkirk, Gabriel Caevalho
Once again, the boys' match proved to be a contested battle, with both the Blue and White teams giving it their all on the pitch. Ben Hanson of the Blue team showcased his scoring prowess, setting the pace for his teammates John Hobkirk and Gabriel Carvalho to follow suit. However, the White Boys team showed great determination and resilience, with Charlie Brooks and Charlie Darbyshire adding to the score line. In the end, the Blues emerged victorious with a narrow 3-2 win with the winning goal coming in the dying seconds, sealing an exciting and hard-fought match.
England U16 4 – 3 Red
Goal scorers :
England U16s – Jake Holland x3, Isaac Dale
Red – Jake Bennett x2, Leo Delves
The last match of the day provided an intense ending, as both the England U16 and Red boys teams consistently showcased their skills and intensity throughout the game. In the final quarter, the match remained at a close 3-3 score line, with impressive goal scorers from both teams. Jake Holland from the U16s displayed his talent with an impressive hattrick, while Jake Bennett, the captain from the Blue team, scored two goals, setting up Leo Delves nicely for the third. However, it wasn't until the very end, in the last few seconds of the match, that Isaac Dale from the U16s scored the game-winner with a solo run from behind the half-way line, securing a thrilling 4-3 victory for England.
25th July
England U16 4 – 1 Blue
Goal scorers:
England U16s – Jake Holland, Isaac Dale, Conor Yap, Harry Montague,
Blue – Harry Lewis
On the final day, the England U16 Boys and Blue teams were fierce competitors in their final match. The England team worked hard and was able to make it 3-0 just before half-time with several different goal scorers from Jake Holland, Isaac Dale and Conor Yap. The second half was well fought with an additional goal from Harry Montague from England, followed up by a reply from Harry Lewis from Blue, to make the ending score 4-1.
Red 2 – 0 White
Goal scorers:
Red – Leo Delves, Jake Bennett
The final match of the tournament proved to be a successful game for the Reds, as they secured a strong 2-0 victory. The Whites put up a tough fight in the first half, keeping the score level at 0-0. However, shortly after half time, the Reds' captain, Leo Delves, and Vice-captain, Jake Bennett, found the back of the net in the second half. This win marked the Reds' first victory in the tournament, making it a fantastic way to finish on a high note.