W1 Start Season At Home To Barnes
By Colin Pike
Surbiton Women start their Women's Hockey League Premier Division campaign when they host newly promoted Barnes on Saturday (push back 1700).
Surbiton lost narrowly in the final of the Premier Division Finals at Nottingham Hockey Centre back in May when Emma Findlay's spectacular strike saw the trophy go back to Sonning Lane, Reading for the first time since 2012-13.
Surbiton play their opening match at home for the first time since 2020-21 when Buckingham were beaten 3-0. Since then, Surbiton have started their season at Clifton Robinsons twice, Loughborough Students and Reading.
Barnes are making their debut in the Premier Division after winning promotion from Division One South last season, but before Barnes merged with the previously merged Hounslow and Ealing club in 2005-06, Ealing were one of the founder members of the Women's National League in 1989-90. Ealing merged with Hounslow in 2000-01 and the club elected to be called Barnes from 2013-14.
Although the teams have not met in the Women's Hockey League before, Barnes caused a cup shock in 2015-16 when they knocked the cup holders out in round 2, 1-0 at home, Abbie Smith scoring the only goal.
Barnes have signed Paige Gillott from Wimbledon and Claudia Swain from the University of Nottingham and with Maddie Long and Maddie Axford having joined Surbiton from Nottingham, there is likely to be a mini-reunion with Katie Curtis also resident at Sugden Road.
Surbiton have also recruited Irish international goalkeeper Ayeisha McFerran and Georgie Gardens, who narrowly missed out on promotion whilst at Exeter University last season, Barnes winning the Division One South title by a four point margin over the Devon university.
Long, who last played for Surbiton in 2021-22 and has spent the last three seasons in Nottingham, is not the only former Surbiton player returning. Amy Costello returns after one season away from Sugden Road.
Axford scored 31 goals in three seasons in Nottingham and was the University's top scorer for two seasons out of three. Long scored four goals for Surbiton previously and scored eight goals whilst at Nottingham.
Supporters unable to attend Sugden Road can watch the match online on SHC TV via the Surbiton Hockey Club channel on You Tube here
Elsewhere in the Premier Division, Durham University also play their first ever match in the top flight when they welcome Clifton Robinsons. Reading start their title defence at Raynes Park High School against Wimbledon, whilst Hampstead & Westminster, who qualified for Europe by finishing top of the league table after Stage 2 are at home to East Grinstead.
The University of Birmingham are at home to Bowdon and there is the first University clash of the season as Loughborough Students make the relatively short trip to the University of Nottingham.