County Hockey Success for Yarm School Pupils

72 pupils are celebrating county hockey selection and are continuing the School’s sporting success despite the challenges posed by the pandemic.

99 pupils went forward for county trials held last term, with 72 selected for Durham County. They will join 16 pupils who have already been selected for the Regional Performance Centre and now play the sport to a representative level. As soon as guidance changes to allow this, the successful players will regularly attend high performance training sessions before taking part in tournaments which will ultimately lead to a North of England assessment, or even a higher level.

In a season that has been curtailed by Covid-19 and a lack of school fixtures as a result of year group bubbles and school closures, many players turned to the School’s strong links with local clubs that remained open under England Hockey’s published guidelines.

Twenty-eight boys have played for Stockton Hockey Club and others have featured for Stokesley, Marton and Thirsk hockey clubs. Sixth-formers Alex Greenaway and Matthew Chapman are impressively playing for Durham University in the National League.

Girls hockey is also booming with more than 70 girls playing for Stokesley Hockey Club and several others playing at Marton and Stockton, many of whom play in the Yorkshire Youth Leagues with an increasing number progressing to the senior teams.

Dr Huw Williams, Headmaster said: “Yarm has a heritage of success across many sports, producing strong school teams as well as supporting and developing individuals with the talent and potential to gain representative or club honours. The growth in popularity and success on the hockey field is a result of the tremendous commitment of several of the staff over recent years and the dedication of the pupils, many of whom – in normal times – train before the School day at 7.30 in the morning.

“The efforts of all concerned have put the sport in a very healthy position at Yarm and we’re extremely proud of all those pupils who are participating and competing at different levels.

“We are looking forward to recommencing school fixtures as soon as it is safe to do so and Government restrictions enable grassroots sport to start again.”