A few years ago, in his typically indefatigable fashion, Dave Cooper committed the club to a serious indoor programme. The benefits are now becoming increasingly apparent. Some of our juniors have been playing indoor hockey since the age of eight, guided initially by James Southgate’s wider coaching vision and, more recently, with Billy Bryce steering matters from an administrative perspective. The result is a pathway that is beginning to produce some impressive returns.

Last weekend brought the South East Championships, a competition featuring some of the region’s established indoor heavyweights, including East Grinstead and Canterbury, both fortunate enough to enjoy outstanding indoor facilities. Ipswich secured three places in the tournament, a streamlined version of the national indoor events staged in Derby and Nottingham, with teams competing at Under-12, Under-14 and Under-18 level. The Under-14 girls were unfortunate not to gain entry, while half-term commitments ruled out participation for the Under-16 girls.

The Under-12 boys returned home with bronze medals after losing just one group game, against eventual champions Hockey Mentors. They rounded off their campaign with a deserved 1-0 victory over Canterbury in the third-place play-off.

The weekend served as a valuable lesson in the peculiar volatility of indoor hockey, where matches can turn in an instant. Trailing Hawks 1-0 in a ten-minute encounter, they somehow found two goals in the dying moments to snatch a 2-1 win. Later, having appeared destined for a goalless draw with Waltham Forest, they struck twice in the final 40 seconds to claim a remarkable 2-0 victory. A disciplined 0-0 draw against runners-up East Grinstead and a comfortable win over Sevenoaks underlined the quality of the group. They played with structure, clarity and intelligence, following the Southgate coaching blueprint mostly to the letter. Add a little more belief, a touch more attacking thrust, a few less moments of petulance (your author knows a thing or two about one of the culprits) and they will not be settling for bronze for long.

The Under-14 boys also made an excellent start. Wins over Herford and Canterbury, coupled with a hard-earned draw against Hockey Mentors, had them well placed in a competitive field. Momentum was checked by defeat to Sevenoaks before a loss to eventual champions East Grinstead in their final group match.

That left them contesting the bronze-medal game against Canterbury. Despite creating opportunities, they could not find a way through and ultimately finished fourth. It should not obscure what is a highly talented group. Under the guidance of Pete Bale, this side continues to impress both indoors and outdoors and remains one well worth watching.

And then there were the Under-18s.

Results rarely tell the whole story, but these are difficult to ignore: 3-2 against Sevenoaks, 5-0 against Saraha, 3-2 against East Grinstead, 4-3 against Sevenoaks, 2-1 against Saraha and 3-1 against East Grinstead.

Played six, won six.

Unbeaten champions.

A superb performance from a talented, committed and hard-working group who combined skill with resilience throughout the tournament. It was a title won not through luck or momentum, but through consistency and quality.

A memorable weekend, then, for Ipswich indoor hockey. Bronze for the Under-12s, fourth place for the Under-14s and champions at Under-18 level. Not bad for a club that continues to prove that facilities help, but coaching, commitment and culture matter rather more.