Stourport Women Aim To Give Departing Coach A Premier Division Party

Vitality Women's Division 1 North is set for a thrilling finale, with Stourport vying for Premier Division hockey at third time of asking. Rod Gilmour of The Hockey Paper reports

Should Stourport prevail and reach the Vitality Women’s Premier Division on April 1 for the first time in history, they may well look back at some of the killer punches they have landed on the road this season.

First to league rivals Durham where Stourport were two goals to the good away from home, before a resilient defence held firm. “It was a belief point in our season,” said coach Mark Moss.

Next to Sutton Coldfield and a 3-2 victory where Moss wasn’t in attendance and the players led the coaching. Then, last time out, Stourport dominated against Leeds and only scored in the last three minutes, on a day when fellow leaders Bowdon lost.  

Undeterred, Bowdon bounced back at the weekend to beat hosts Stourport. And so, with five match days remaining, Bowdon are top by virtue of goal difference.  

“We lost to a short corner, we had some chances there,” admitted Moss. “A draw may have been a fair result but we didn't deserve to win it as they had the edge. But it hopefully showcased Division 1 hockey and why we are both there. We had a decent crowd under lights with a great atmosphere.”

Stourport women lost nine players at the start of the year. After a “purple patch” period where the club has won two Conferences in the last five years (losing two Premier Division play-offs), a consolidation season was in the offing. 

“We are going way beyond what we thought may happen,” said Moss. “We are just working hard, improving, training and enjoying each other’s company. Our availability is so up and down, we are just delighted to be competing in every game.”

Stourport have experience in several England Masters players, signing Fran Taylor in goal from Olton & West Warwickshire has also given balance in defence, while Moss says Alice Atkinson, a recent England Hockey’s EDP recruit, is “one of the best players in the league”. Meanwhile stalwart captain and drop forward Sarah Parkinson-Mills is firing in the goals and could prove the difference this season.

Should the title fall their way, it would cap a remarkable ending to Moss’ 20-year career at Stourport, as he takes up a role as head of hockey at University of Birmingham from April.

“It would be a huge achievement for Stourport and something the club has never achieved before,” said Parkinson-Mills. “It would be the cherry on top of an incredible few years Mark has worked with this team. The fairytale parting gift.

“Whether the team pull it off this season or not though is irrelevant to the legacy that Mark will leave, which goes beyond our finishing position in the league this season. You only need to look at the number of teams, the junior section, Talent Academy, the coaches he has helped develop and the three most recent EDP selections in Lorna Mackenzie, Lizzy Pocknell and Alice Atkinson to see that he is more than just the women's 1st team coach at Stourport. What he has done here goes beyond where we finish this season.”

After Stourport’s brief Premier Division flirtations and play-off defeats, Moss says promotion would indeed cap an “incredible” ending. He added: “It would be a nice end to the programme but we have just developed some really good players and if you win more than you lose then you won’t be far away.”

Before then, both teams have to play a dangerous Leicester side in the run-in which could yet prove problematic, while Durham, who have played both Bowdon and Stourport, will also lay claim to title hopes, lying five points off the pace in third.

Moss added: “I genuinely think it will come down to goal difference. I think both teams will win their remaining games and what a way to end the season that would be.”

Captain Parkinson-Mills, director of sport at Warwick’s King's High School for Girls, also believes it could go down to the wire, with Stourport playing Leicester on the final day. They may also have to call on their previous away day formula to cross the line.

She said: “We know there is a long way to go to the end of the season and we know we are good enough to take the league, albeit we recognise Bowdon will also feel the same about their chances!

“We know if we take care of our own performance we will go into the last game of the season against Leicester with the opportunity still in our own hands.”

Saturday: Swansea v Stourport, 12pm