Beeston are connecting with local community on matchdays, reports Rod Gilmour of The Hockey Paper
Beeston men and women hope to sparkle on the pitch in their Premier Division double header before a fireworks display envelops Nottingham Hockey Centre on Saturday.
Both Beeston sides will be looking to make inroads at the top of the table against rivals University of Nottingham, with the women in fifth and the men sitting in sixth place in their respective leagues.
The Bees, aided by its live TV platform, will also be hoping for a bumper crowd, with Oktoberfest themed menus, food stalls and live music in the club bar to complement the hockey.
On the pitch, Beeston women will be aiming to avert two recent defeats after opening their season in style following a brace of 2-1 wins over Wimbledon (a first away win at Raynes Park following their last-minute winner) and Vitality Women’s Premier Division champions East Grinstead.
“Both teams we had beaten before so we went into the games with a clear gameplan,” says James Sordillo, Beeston’s coach. “Any game against top opposition you are going to ride your luck a little bit, but we took our chances and came away with six points.”
They then saw a 3-1 reverse at home to high-flying Clifton Robinsons. “We were really poor, they outplayed us and they are an awesome side and getting better and better every year,” admits Sordillo. “It’s been great to go toe-to-toe with them as both teams have challenged the teams at the top and got results against them.
“They are incredibly well organised, play an aggressive, not over physical and quick style of hockey and go forward at pace.
“They have a really good skill set and have some superb Premier Division level players who aren’t in the national programme and are a tight squad.”
Beeston can see themselves in the same mold, Sordillo overseeing a group of players who have largely been formed over the last few years. “It’s that unit and friendship and they want to get stuck in for their mates. We aren’t seeing being away from Bisham Abbey as a negative. It’s a positive for us.
“We all saw the hooha when the GB women didn’t play their first games of the season. There’s no point moaning about it, you have to crack on and the stronger you are as a team the more you can compete.”
In those two games, Lucy Mackey, an Irish U21 international, made her debut for Beeston, while Angela Chilwell, Katie Mason and Martha Wong all played their first games against East Grinstead.
Last weekend, Beeston went down 2-0 at Isca & University of Exeter, who scored their first points in the top flight. “It’s one of those games in sport,” adds Sordillo. “We were statistically dominant against them all over the field. In terms of shots and outcomes and shots in the circle it was our best game in three years, but ultimately that’s what counts.”
Isca had three shots and one corner and scored from two, while Jess Buchanan proved a standout for the Premier Division newbies with a superb display in goal. “We’ve tended to not do so well and create chances against teams on paper who are near the bottom of the league,” says Sordillo, “they fight a little bit harder.”
Just as Beeston will aim to do in front of home support this weekend. All of Beeston’s matches are double headers with the men’s 1s this season as the club continues to drive engagement and profile as the leading Midlands club.
“It will take time to grow,” says Sordillo, who used to work in marketing for England Netball. “We have our regular supporters coming down and we are starting to see more within the club, the later push back helps with that as it doesn’t clash with so many games.
“The club is going about it the right way. You can’t expect massive crowds overnight but they are trying to create an experience. It’s an event rather than a game of hockey.”
With arguably the best facilities in the country and a buzzing Centre on Saturday matches, Sordillo says that “it’s great to see the club putting in time, resources and engaging not just the members but the local community.”
University of Nottingham will make the short trip over the road aiming to leapfrog Beeston with their second win of the season.
It will be a game of two contrasting styles, with Nottingham set up with hard runners and one v one battles against the more structured Beeston.
“It’s a little bit hectic at times but we have to try and get better at playing those situations,” says Sordillo. “We have to remember that it’s top level sport not a BUCS game, we have to rein it in and get some control and create opportunities.”
“They are super well coached and technically superb, Matt Taylor [UoN women’s coach] has been around a long time and had loads of success.
“But we will go out there, try and have some fun and put on a show for the crowd.”
Saturday:
Beeston women v University of Nottingham, 4pm
Beeston men v University of Nottingham, 6pm
Photo courtesy of David Kissman
