By Lucas Ball
Holcombe Hockey Club can confirm that New Zealanders Hayden Phillips and Hattie Jones have departed the club following the conclusion of the 2023/24 season.
Jones spent two spells with the club and formed a key part of last season’s promotion-winning team as our Women secured an instant return to the Premier Division.
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She was also part of the team which finished top of the regular season Premier Division table in 2019 and then hosted the EuroHockey Club Trophy later that season, finishing with a silver medal in front of a home Holcombe crowd behind Club Campo de Madrid.
Her ability to play across the backline made Jones a key player under several head coaches while she was also an active club member.
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Phillips, a regular New Zealand international, spent a number of years with the club, consistently impressing with his sharp stick skills and dribbling ability. More recently, he was also assistant coach and then manager for our Women’s first-team, working with Nick Bandurak and fellow Kiwi Brad Read.
The Black Sticks international was part of the Holcombe team which finished second in the Premier Division in 2022/23, beating Surbiton at Sugden Road at League Finals weekend to secure a Euro Hockey League spot for last season, with Holcs then beating Racing Club de France in Barcelona before losing to KO16 hosts Real Club de Polo.
Both will be missed at Holcombe Park having spent such a long time with the club.
We would like to wish both Hayden and Hattie all the best in their future endeavours and place on record our thanks as a club.
Images: Jon Goodall, Theresa Field, Graeme Wilcockson, Martin Waight