Clear sunny skies greeted 150 excited U10 girls as they arrived at Three Hills in Folkestone for the big event of the year – the County Championships!

As the girls warmed up, their parents scrambled for a quick coffee and a bacon bap to fuel their enthusiastic encouragement from the side lines.

First up for the Optimists was a confident Marden Apples side who took control from the outset. Folkestone’s main tacklers – Poppy R, Coraleigh, Erin and Isla B were kept very busy as Marden mounted numerous attacks. The Folkestone girls were finding it difficult, none more so than Poppy H who had to hobble off after a Marden stick hit her knee. Ailla in goal made some great saves including a superb diving stop but eventually Marden were able to find a winner. Final score Folkestone 0-1 Marden Apples.

It was a case of ‘out of the frying pan into the fire’ for the next game as Folkestone took on an incredibly talented Sevenoaks Sharks team. A special mention must go to Poppy R for some fantastic tackles and brave defending as the Sharks created wave after wave of attacks. The final score was 4-0 to Sevenoaks. A tough start for the Folkestone girls! The eventual consolation being that Sevenoaks deservedly went on to win the tournament.

No game in the County Championships is easy and the next game against Knole Park was another big challenge. However, any nerves the Folkestone girls had at the start were starting to vanish and they showed a real determination to get back to winning ways. Scarlet, Abi and Sophie made some great passes and showed real spirit to get up and support the attackers while also getting back and helping to defend. It was a more even game but it was Knole Park who were able to find the winning goal to snatch a 1-0 victory.

Now many teams might feel demoralised by losing 3 consecutive matches but our Folkestone girls are a special group. They lifted each others’ spirits between games with laughs, sweets and biscuits in equal measure. The perfect tonic!

Next up were Tunbridge Wells who were no match for a determined Folkestone team who had rediscovered their mojo (at the bottom of a Skittles packet!). They started to find space and were moving the ball around confidently. After a well worked penalty corner, Coraleigh was first to pounce on a loose ball and tapped it home for Folkestone’s first goal of the tournament. The second was not far behind as Poppy H picked up the ball and made a run into the box, slotting it past the goalkeeper. As the girls pushed on, the third goal was just a matter of time and Poppy H found the net again for a superb 3-0 victory.

With the group winners proceeding to the semi finals, Folkestone were pitted against Burnt Ash in a battle for 7th spot. Again the girls showed fantastic spirt as they controlled the match from the start. Scarlet and Abi made some great runs down the wings, Sophie made some intelligent passes and Erin and Isla B were rock solid in midfield. Poppy R and Coraleigh controlled things from the back and up front Poppy H added another 2 goals to her tally. A 2-0 victory to take 7th place and a wonderful way to finish the tournament.

Overall loads of positives to be taken from a brave performance and the girls, no doubt, much wiser and better players as a result of their first County Championships. Here’s to many more.

A huge thank you to Erin and Becca for coaching and inspiring the girls and to Three Hills for providing such a great setting for all the teams to showcase their hockey talents! (Report written by Poppy H's Dad)