Helpful neighbours lend a hand to Hillcroft Primary's hockey players

​​A group of hockey-loving youngsters from Hillcroft Primary School were given a helping hand by neighbouring Caterham School the other week as they received a special coaching session at Caterham’s acclaimed hockey academy.

The 15 pupils from Years Five and Six are all members of Hillcroft’s after-school hockey club, which is run by teacher Neil Fuhrmann, but in the academy session they were coached by Caterham’s hockey manager Peter Friend, who currently plays for Wimbledon in the hockey National Premier League and has coached and played all around the world.

Caterham gave Hillcroft use of their minibus to transport the children to and from the two and a half hour session, which took place on a day when they also had after-school hockey club, so an opportunity to show off what they had learned.

“Hockey is not one of the main sports in primary school, but we have a thriving club at Hillcroft, and we are lucky to be so close to a school in Caterham which takes great pride in how it plays the sport,” said Sophie Burningham PE coordinator at Hillcroft, a member of the GLF Schools group multi-academy trust.

“I cannot thank Caterham enough for their help in organising the session - it was wonderful of them to offer our pupils this opportunity, and the children came back absolutely buzzing with excitement – it really inspired them.”