NEW first team captain Adrian Young believes Redditch can impress in the West Midlands Premier Division 2018/19 campaign despite being faced by some tough opposition.
The Kingfishers and company are braced for life under a new league structure as the Midlands Regional Hockey Association (MRHA) has introduced an open league structure whereby sides are no longer split into first, second and third team leagues.
From this season, all of the leagues are open and it means Redditch teams are coming up against some much bigger clubs, albeit their second or third string sides.
The Redditch men’s first to fourth teams will play in the West Midlands Premier, South West Premier, South West Division Two and South West Division Four respectively.
Young said: “From a first team point of view, we have lost a couple of players from last year’s squad, but I’m confident we have enough strength in depth thanks to the development of the club as a whole over the last few years to continue to move forward and aim for promotion.
“The lads are determined, we will be training twice a week and we have a very strong core of young, fit players which will help us.”
The Kingfishers begin their pre-season schedule with a visit to Finchfield on Saturday before travelling to Old Halesonians on Tuesday.
Home fixtures then follow against Nuneaton, Bridgnorth 2nds and Tamworth on the following three Saturdays.
Redditch begin their league schedule on September 29 at home to Stafford 1sts. Also in the division are Aldridge & Walsall 1sts, Bournville 2nds, Bromsgrove 1sts, Edgbaston 3rds, Leek 3rds, Ludlow 1sts, Market Drayton 1sts, Shrewsbury 1sts, Stourport 2nds and West Brom 1sts.
Redditch HC is running ‘Back to Hockey’ sessions on Mondays between 8-9pm, starting on September 3. They are suitable for adults of all abilities and more information can be found at www.facebook.com/redditchhc.
