Hockey Mentors U14 Girls team achieved a landmark victory at the Holland Elite Cup, defeating top-tier European opposition to claim the title in Den Bosch, Netherlands.
Hockey Mentors (HM), a UK-based community interest company, supports players from state schools and ethnic minority backgrounds.
The U14 squad, made up of girls from across England, had never trained together before the tournament but managed to defeat elite teams from Holland, Germany, Belgium and Northern Ireland.
The 16-team tournament began with a group stage, where HM drew 1-1 with MHC Bennebroek and beat HC Helmond 2-1 thanks to late penalty corner goals from Luba Hall and Emma Jean-Jean.
A 1-1 draw with MHC De Mezen, secured by a Violet Lacey strike, sent them through as group runners-up.
In the quarter-finals, HM defeated German side Club Raffleberg 1-0, with Jean-Jean scoring the decisive goal. They went on to beat strong contenders HockeyClub VVV in the semi-finals, again by a 1-0 margin.
The final saw HM face host club Den Bosch, reigning Dutch and European champions. A packed crowd watched as HM’s Katie Leadbeater scored a powerful penalty corner just before half-time. Despite second-half pressure from Den Bosch, the HM defence held firm to secure a historic 1-0 win.
Chair Previtha Kunjaraman praised the team: “The girls exhibited exceptional skill, resilience and mental strength. Their sportsmanship and competitiveness prove that given a fair opportunity, state school and ethnic minority players can succeed on the international stage.”
