We like to make a racket about our junior section, don’t we? They’re playing at top levels like the East Anglian Eagles, destined to be future England stars, and making Suffolk and Ipswich look like heavyweights. Our juniors are breaking into all the adult squads, but let’s hit pause for a moment and say thank you to the unsung heroes who made it possible for our boys U10, U12, U14, U16 and girls U12, U14, and U16 to represent Ipswich at the Derby Indoor Hockey Festival.

Indoor hockey, is treated like the unwanted stepchild by England Hockey. It’s crammed into a tiny window around Christmas, like the last-minute stuffing of a turkey. If England Hockey ever took a good look at the schedule, they might give it more than a cursory glance. But Ipswich, led by the indomitable James Southgate, has a proud indoor hockey tradition.

Last year, Dave Cooper suggested we take indoor teams to Derby in May and Nottingham in December. I nearly choked on my overpriced Tuddenham Road ale. But Dave, being Dave, just ploughed ahead, and now, two seasons later, indoor hockey for our youngest is part of our DNA.

Indoor hockey in the UK is no walk in the park. With typically only one court to train and play on, you can’t select or train everyone, leading to some disappointed children and parents. But this year’s process for the spring Derby festival was run very well. Tough selection decisions were made early, followed by masterclasses in indoor hockey from Southy for U10 through to U14, preparing the juniors for their tournaments. It's worth noting that the noise inside an indoor hall with that age group is terrifying, almost as terrifying as the look Southy gives if you mis-trap a pass off the boards (I may never play again after that experience). But we persevered with five weeks of indoor training at Ipswich School (thanks for their support) after using RHS last year.

At the Derby tournament this year, Dave pulled out all the stops, and we brought seven teams to compete against some of the country’s biggest clubs. The U10 boys, always the bridesmaids, were runners-up, and the U16 boys were an awesome team with Callum winning player of the tournament. We fielded seven teams and packed out Holiday Inns and Harvesters with parents, players, and families. It was a splendid tour for everyone.

Our junior umpires also shone, with Dave and Vic Shelley guiding Jake, Charlie, Jack, and Millie (apologies if I missed anyone) to umpire indoor hockey at a high level. It’s not easy, but they did a superb job, and we were very proud of them as well as our players.

So, thank you to everyone involved - Baler, Ward, Southy, Storm, Bryce, Hodgkinsons, Coopers, Lever, Vic Shelley.... I can’t mention everyone and fear I've missed someone, but we put on a top-notch show and THANK YOU to all the parents who helped and brought their children to each and every session and to the festival.

Some pictures in this link: Juniors in Derby!