Lindum Hockey can be proud of their debut in the Division One North, despite a relegation that coach Stuart Cunnington described as “disappointing”.
The Lincoln-based side made history in being promotion into English hockey’s second tier, being the first Lincolnshire outfit to manage it.
Lindum were eventually relegated with two games to go, leaving themselves too much catching up to do after failing to pick up enough points in the first half of the campaign.
Cunnington said: “I think we can look back in some ways proud of what we tried to do in terms of the way we performed and competed at a level the club has never been in before.
“It was a season that could’ve been very different with a bit more luck in certain games.”
The Yellow Submarine ended the term on 13 points, claiming three wins and four draws in their 18 games. It was a tally that would have been enough for survival in the prior season.
The Lindum coach added: “I am disappointed we went down, but in terms of the way that we performed and competed in every game, there wasn’t a single game that we didn’t compete and give an account of ourselves and give an opportunity to get a result.”
After consecutive promotions under former player-coach Matt Bell, the step into the Division One North proved too big for a club that remains relatively small compared to some of the heavy hitters and university teams of the tier.
“People have held their heads high and realised that we gave it a real good go, but it’s obviously disappointing,” Cunnington said.
He noted a lack of experience at the level was a key part in how the season panned out, alongside a start to the campaign that did not see a victory until November.
“I think if we had another season now, I would back us to stay up,” he said. “You were not going to get it right straight away, it did take a lot of building and learning through the season.”
Cunnington, who arrived at Lindum last summer, was making his coaching debut at the second tier, and reflected on a long season for himself personally.
He said: “It was learning quickly, and use the players around you who have had some experience. I was blessed with a really good leadership group that we put together.
“We don’t have the luxury of having three or four coaches. It was tough, naturally, because of the level that it was.
“It was a tough year personally being involved in a few teams, it became very busy and in some ways it was a stressful year in the hockey world.”
He went on to describe it as a good challenge, thanking Lindum Hockey for affording him the opportunity.
The Linc will continue its coverage of Lindum Hockey into the 2025/26 season.