England 9 Day Field Hockey Tour

Upon our arrival we are welcomed by our English tour guide and take part in a tour to Windsor Castle, Europe’s longest occupied palace. Later this afternoon our team will take part in a training session as we prepare for our upcoming friendly games.

We begin our day at the magnificent Westminster Abbey where most British Kings and Queens since 1066 have been crowned and the final resting place of many monarchs, heroes and poets. In 2013, on the 50th anniversary of his death, C. S. Lewis joined some of Britain’s greatest writers recognized here at Poets’ Corner. Next we view the Houses of Parliament and Elizabeth Tower, commonly called Big Ben. Big Ben is among London’s most iconic landmarks. Later this morning we learn that today’s modern game of field hockey originated in Great Britain during the 19th century. While the first field hockey club was founded in 1849 (Blackheath HC), the game was not developed into its present form until the influence of Teddington HC and official rules were established by the Hockey Association in 1886. Through British army influence, field hockey spread through the Britain’s Empire and is now considered one of the top six sports in the world. In the afternoon we visit the Lee Valley Hockey & Tennis Centre, scheduled site of the 2015 Euro Hockey Championship and the center for English Hockey. After our tour, we return to our hotel for a pre-game meal and time to rest before heading out to our scheduled friendly field hockey game. After our game we will have a post game party with time to interact and become better friends with the team we just played.
Game One vs. TBD

After breakfast the team will depart for Buckingham Palace, the primary office and home for Great Britain’s monarchy in London. View the historic and famous changing of the guards before seeing the royal family’s carriages and garage at the Royal Mews. Next we visit the famous St. Paul’s Cathedral sitting on London’s highest point, Ludgate Hill. Take in the amazing London skyline from this point before our visit to St. James Palace and the Tower of London. See the incredible architecture of this historic castle as it sits on the River Thames. This afternoon we take part in a training session led by a local professional English coach giving both the players and coaches a chance to learn how field hockey training is done in England.

This morning we depart London and head west to Highclere Castle, which has been made famous for the TV show- Downton Abbey. We’ll enjoy a tour of Highclere Castle and grounds before taking part in an afternoon visit to the Reading Hockey Club, one of England’s most successful field hockey clubs. Founded in 1904, the Reading Hockey Club joined England’s premier field hockey league in 1972 and has been a site for international competition. Due to a size increase, the club moved to its current location in 1986 and today has 18 teams. Reading Hockey Club fields a men’s and women’s team in England’s top leagues and both teams have won premier league championships in recent history. After our visit we will transfer to the hotel for a pre-game meal and then be transferred for our field hockey game. After our game we will have a post game party with time to interact and become better friends with the team we just played.

Game Two vs. TBD

Following an early breakfast we will depart for Hatherton, the home of England’s most successful hockey club in recent history, the Cannock Hockey Club. On route we will visit the Coventry Transport Museum, home of the largest collection of British road transportation in the world and the fastest car in the world, the Thrust SSC. Recorded at 763 mph, this vehicle broke the sound barrier as fighter pilot Squadron Leader Andy Green set the new world record on October 15, 1997. Next we visit the Cannock Hockey Club, the location for some of England’s best field hockey facilities. We will learn of the team’s victorious history and hopeful future encapsulated by their club motto, “Cherish the past; Consolidate our present achievements; Be adventurously ambitious for the future.” We overnight this evening in Birmingham.

We begin our day with a visit to the University of Birmingham to see their top tier field hockey program. As the most successful university club in England, Birmingham fields 8 teams, has over 160 members, and recently won 2 BUCS Cups and 3 BUCS leagues. After our educational visit, we depart and continue back to London making stops at Stratford Upon Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare and the famous & medieval Warwick Castle built by William the Conqueror. We arrive back in London for our dinner and overnight.

Our final day of touring begins a visit to the famous London Eye, Harrods, Trafalgar Square, and the Royal Albert Hall, built by Prince Albert in 1871. Following lunch we return to our hotel for time to rest and then be transferred for our afternoon field hockey game. After our game we will have a post game party with time to interact and become better friends with the team we just played. Return to the hotel and enjoy the rest of the evening in London at your leisure.

Game Three vs. TBD

We say good bye to England and transfer to the London airport to begin our journey home.