After three seasons in Division One North, a trip down to newly-installed champions East Grinstead on the opening day of the Vitality Women’s Premier Division looked a difficult encounter for Bowdon.
Yet they travelled with “high expectations” and came away with a battling 2-1 win as East Grinstead hit the post late on. Seven games in and the Greater Manchester outfit are the only unbeaten side across the men’s and women’s Premier Divisions, sharing the best defensive record with Surbiton women for good measure.
Their top flight return started with a pre-season friendly against Hamsptead & Westminster at Bisham Abbey and they have looked a fit and purposeful side ever since.
“When you step up a league you expect it to be very difficult,” says Sian French, Bowdon’s captain. “But we’ve been really pleased with the progress in the table but also our actions on the pitch and the potential that we still have, as there are results where we’ve had draws where we felt we’ve won the game.”
With a sizeable and revered junior section, Bowdon have seen the likes of Kate Richardson-Walsh, Sam Quek (now Mairs), goalkeepers Kirsty Mackay (now Shea) and James Mazarelo, to today’s junior to senior cohort which includes women’s 1s squad members Katie Alexander and Priya Kerfoot.
“We know we will get two or three juniors every year who enter into the performance set up and that’s a great place to be,” adds French.
Bowdon have been aided by the external support of hockey chair Jonathan Grant and committee, who have allowed access to minibuses this season to keep the team fresh for long trips south.
The club has also partnered with the University of Manchester’s University Academy 92, which gives additional strength and conditioning and video support to the squad.
Meanwhile, a three-way managerial role is also helping the team. Sam Leckey was asked by Tina Cullen, the former Bowdon coach, around six years ago and while she is the main manager, she shares duties across the long season with two others.
“It works really well and means I’m not tied to every weekend,” says Leckey. “It’s quite innovative and I don’t know any other managers that do that. It keeps us fresh and excited and ready for the next matches.”
Those matches include a tough-looking run in before the Christmas break which will show their top six mettle, starting with a home clash with Clifton Robinsons this weekend before Reading, Surbiton and Hampstead & Westminster finish Phase 1.
Leckey says Bowdon have been “fantastic” this season, the team also prospering with Mairs having played more matches than in recent seasons due to her TV commitments and starting a family.
She adds: “Sam reads the game so well and is really encouraging to the younger players. You wouldn’t know she has a gold medal if you spoke to her or saw her quality on the pitch as she is so good with the team.
“She just has that presence about her, like Kirsty and Sian. We are lucky that the spine of the team is so strong.”
“It’s great to have her wanting to play and supporting the club,” adds French. “To have her present at training and games and that wealth of experience has been great. She’s a great role model in the club and the gold medal adds a lot.”
Bowdon also have the likes of Sophia Crawshay, on the Welsh fringes, and New Zealand’s new signing Alia Jaques in their ranks, alongside redoubtable centre back Jane Donnell, who is still scoring this season aged 42.
Meanwhile French, a physiotherapist in the NHS and private sector, is into her fourth season as captain, her 11th season overall at the club.
In February, the Welsh captain retired from the international scene after a 15-year career, which culminated in Bowdon returning to the top flight.
“It was a tough decision to step away but it was the right decision,” says French. “It’s allowed me to be more free and enjoy a more relaxed environment around hockey.”
Saturday: Bowdon v Clifton Robinsons, 1:15pm
