Final preparations are underway for Lindum Hockey, as they ready for their debut season in the second tier.
It will also be the Yellow Submarine’s first season under new head coach Stuart Cunnington, who replaced Matt Bell this summer after two consecutive promotions for the club.
Lindum’s 2024/25 campaign with be the first of any Lincolnshire outfit in the England Hockey Division One North.
Lindum Hockey Ins and Outs:
As well as a change of coach, there have been a number of ins and outs at Lindum over the course of the summer. Cunnington has retained the “majority” of the title winning squad from last season, while adding more than a handful of fresh faces.
He said: “In terms of pulling players in, the majority have been involved at the county level or know players from other clubs.”
This has been a theme in Lindum’s new additions, with three of the names having played with the likes of forward Ben Read at Peterborough. England over-30s defender Joe Finding, forward Matt Goodley, and midfielder Nathan Foad have all joined, having previously lined-up at Peterborough.
Cunnington described Goodley has having “unbelievable” stick skills, while also speaking to the credentials of the other additions.
Elsewhere, former Brooklands MU forward and a well-known face to those in the Lincolnshire hockey scene, Sam Perrin, has joined Lindum. Cunnington said: “He’s a really good addition, a force of nature. He’s physical and puts himself about.”
At the other end of the pitch, former Sheffield Hallam goalkeeper Dan Garlick and experienced ex-Belper stopper Ben Bradley have been added to the ranks. It comes as goalkeeper Oliver Carrick exits the club, and David Overton remains unavailable until the second half of the term.
As well as the already known exit of Bell, it has been confirmed to The Linc that Matt Parker, Sam France, and James Niven have all departed Lindum after successful stints with the club.
“Promising” Final Preparations:
Lindum’s new head coach reflected on pre-season, and said: “It’s been good, the training has been about putting together a squad, looking at individuals. Everyone has done really well, and things are promising now in terms of the depth, that makes my job a little bit difficult in getting it down to a 15 man squad.”
Lincolnshire’s premier hockey club have had a mix bag in their pre-season fixtures. They have beaten University of Nottingham 2, Leeds and Sheffield, while also recording a sole loss, against Timperley.
Cunnington added: “The core is very much still here. In terms of the real leaders in the team, apart from Matt Bell who was the coach, the core has very much stayed the same. If anything we have added to that core group.
“That’s really important, it’s a lot more than a coach and 16 players. You have your leaders in the squad as well.”
Lindum’s final preparation takes place on Sunday, September 15, with a trip to Beeston. The regular season then kicks into gear the following week, at home to Deeside Ramblers on Sunday, September 22.
Feature Image Credit: Jamie Johnson