We were delighted to catch up with Tilly Butterworth and Poppy Barlow this week, both of whom joined the club when they were Under 13s, going on to play for Repton HC for 5 years before leaving at the end of last season to head off to their university clubs. Both were key members of last season’s promoted W1s team who finished top of Conference Midlands, as well as playing for our W1s indoor team in the Indoor National Premier Division and reaching the U18 Girls National Tier 1 Final.

Poppy headed to the University of Nottingham to read veterinary science and we are pleased to report she has been regularly selected for their 1st XI squad playing at the highest club level in the England Hockey Premier Division. Playing alongside Repton HC alum Minnie P, Sienna D and Claudia S she has already made a big impact on the team and is one of only a few freshers earning a 1st team spot under coach Matt Taylor.

Poppy told us about her time so far at Nottingham...

"I joined UON around 7 weeks ago at the beginning of pre-season and have loved it. It has been a change to what I had experienced at Repton HC but I feel like I could not have been better prepared by the club. Playing in the premiership is a step up, the game is more clinical and the speed is faster. However; the tactical knowledge, skills and awareness of the game that I was able to develop at Repton from the coaches and opportunities I was given by the club has helped me to make the next step up.

I am loving all aspects of UON, whether it be meeting new people, playing at a great standard of hockey with some exceptional players or having lots of fun on the social side. However, this doesn’t mean that I am not missing Repton HC. I miss the entire club: my friends, teammates, coaches and managers and I wish them all the best for the upcoming season. Repton HC definitely has a sense of ‘home’ about it and I cannot wait to come back and support later on in the season when I get the chance!"

Tilly has travelled further afield and moved across the Atlantic to take up a place at Harvard University, following in the footsteps and re-joining Repton HC alum Bronte Brough on the pitch! Already well in to her first season and as a starter in the team, it has been fantastic to see Tilly’s progress and her impact on the Harvard team facing other Division 1 university teams from across the USA. With Ivy League match ups against alum Ellie Barlow (Yale) and Ella Bowman (Dartmouth) the opportunities for our players to gain international hockey experience balanced with an outstanding USA college experience is a proven pathway from Repton HC.

We caught up with Tilly on her experiences so far,

"I am loving my time in the HFH team so far this season. From the moment I started, I have felt so welcome and integrated into the team, and I really enjoy the style of hockey we play as well as the values we embody as a group. It is definitely something I want to grow in and contribute to lots over my four years here.

Looking back on my years spent at RHC, I am very grateful for how the club prepared me for these new steps across the pond, in terms of playing styles and game understanding, as well as transferring the special values shared at RHC of inclusivity and bravery for young players to step up and compete amongst long standing and experienced teams at the top level. Evidently, I miss the familiarity of the RHC environment and being surrounded by such a special group of girls and the wider community, but I am really enjoying the new challenges and opportunities at Harvard, with some familiar RHC faces out here too!"