HAVANT HOCKEY CLUB

Night of Success for Havant Hockey Club at Borough Sports Awards

It was a night of huge success for Havant Hockey Club as they scooped four prizes at the Havant Borough Sports Association Awards.

The club won in the Team of the Year, Coach of the Year, Young Sportsman of the Year and Special Merit Award categories.

The Men’s 1st XI were recognised for their efforts in beating expectations in clinching the England Hockey Conference West league last season, with the side earning a place in the newly formed Division 1 South, the second tier of hockey in England. Three of the squad were named to the league’s team of the year, including Polish international goalkeeper Maciej Pacanowski who was recognised at the Sports Awards with a Special Merit Award.

Meanwhile, Harry Croft-Baker won the Young Sportsman of the Year after his performances for the 1st XI earned him a call-up to the England U18s, playing internationals against the other home nations as well the top European countries in the past year. The right wing back made his National League debut for Havant aged just 16 and has subsequently developed into a consistent starter.

“I am really pleased and honoured to have received this award,” he said. “Havant have really allowed me to become the best player I possibly can and I hope to keep improving and see where hockey can take me.”

Jon Keynes was named Coach of the Year for leading the club’s Community Coaching programme and has been responsible for introducing hockey to hundreds of young children in the Havant. That involves going into schools across the Borough, as well as hosting hockey camps in the school holidays.

Paul Marks, Havant’s Chair of Hockey, said: “Jon’s a fantastic ambassador for the sport of hockey generally and Havant Hockey Club specifically. Through his enthusiasm, more and more children are continuing to participate in the sport into their teenage years as part of the club’s junior programme.”

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