If you are unfamiliar with England Hockey’s ‘Talent System’, please refer to the page in this section giving some general background information by clicking here. Part of the system is county hockey,

Cheshire has 2 county hockey associations, West Cheshire and East Cheshire. Deeside Ramblers lies pretty much in the middle so our juniors can attend either, according to personal preference and convenience.

Each of West Cheshire and East Cheshire organises its own junior county hockey programmes for u13s to u18s, known as "Junior County (Sub Area) Hockey" (previously known as Development Centres (DC) and Academy Centres (AC)).

If you would like to discuss whether to attend West Cheshire or East Cheshire sessions, please speak to your child’s coach. The decision may boil down to which sessions are most convenient in terms of location and timing. If you live in Wales, you have the option of attending Hockey Wales’s own Development Centres and/or 360 Programme. See the Hockey Wales website for details.

The 2 Cheshire county centres have different processes for those wanting to attend.

West Cheshire
West Cheshire invites all those interested to attend their sessions but requests those wanting to attend to email the organiser in advance (details below). As and when West Cheshire notifies us of its session dates for each age group, we will update parents directly. A summary of the information as and when received from West Cheshire is also reproduced at the foot of this page.
Those who have attended in previous years should get an email directly from West Cheshire notifying them of arrangements.

East Cheshire
East Cheshire maintains its own website with a lot of useful information (including session dates once finalised). Click here.

Unlike West Cheshire, those wanting to attend East Cheshire need to be nominated by the Club (unless they have attended in the previous year, in which case an automatic invitation to attend is sent by East Cheshire).

It is the Club’s policy to nominate on request all keen players to ‘give it a go’ unless they are very inexperienced. Following nomination by the Club, invitations to register are then sent out by East Cheshire.

Please contact the Junior Coordinator if you would like your child to be nominated and include the following information (which will then be passed on to East Cheshire):

Child's first name and last name
Gender
Date of Birth
Parent contact email
Parent name
Parent contact number
Goalkeeper or outfield.

Please bear in mind that the usual cut off date for nomination is mid-July; however, we will of course liaise with East Cheshire if you join the club only after this date and want us to try to get you included.

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WHEN RECEIVED, INFORMATION ABOUT THE ENROLMENT PROCESS FOR WEST CHESHIRE WILL BE POSTED HERE - scroll down to find relevant age group / gender

[information received from West Cheshire as at 12/09/24]

Please note that all requests to join the sessions below and any queries regarding West Cheshire sessions should be directed to Paul 'Willo' Williams, West Cheshire and Wirral County Hockey: 07840 812676 / Willohockey100@sky.com.

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West Cheshire U15 (Year 10) Girls

"Sessions will take place at

Deeside Ramblers Hockey Club
Gardenhurst Estate
Whitchurch Road
Tiverton
Nr Tarporley
CW6 9NA

on the following dates:

Sunday 29th September 3pm - 5pm (registration from 2.45pm) following DRHC M1 v Stourport
Friday 18th October 6pm - 8pm (registration from 5.45pm)
Sunday 17th November 12.30 - 2.30 (registration from 12.15)
Sunday 1st December 3pm - 5pm (registration from 2.45pm) following DRHC M1 v Lindum

At the end of these sessions, players will be selected to participate in further practice sessions and matches against other North West Counties (Cumbria, East Cheshire, Greater Manchester and Lancashire) and in May and June against North East Counties.

The cost of these training sessions is £80 which may be paid in cash, cheque payable to 'West Cheshire Junior Development Centre' or by Bank Transfer.

our bank details are

West Cheshire Junior Development Centre

Sort Code: 402020

Account number: 21518380

If paying by bank transfer, please use the following style of reference:

U15G followed by your daughter's surname and first initial eg U15GWilliamsP (if i were to be an U15 girl)

I appreciate that clubs and school will be drawing heavily on your purse strings shortly, so if you would prefer, payments may be spread as follows:

3 payments 29/9 (£27) 17/11 (£27) and 1/12 (£26)

although to make life easier for our Treasurer, please could we ask you not to make payments before Sunday 29th September."

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West Cheshire U15 (year 10) Boys

"Sessions will take place at

Calday Grange School Sports Ground
Telegraph Road
Caldy
Wirral
CH48 1NX (opposite Caldy RUFC)

6.15pm - 7.45pm (registration from 6pm)

on the following dates:

Friday 27th September
Friday 18th October
Friday 22nd November
Friday 6th December

so 6 hours of hockey coaching from Lead Coaches Jay Cunliffe, James Gardiner, Jack Redhead and Syd Roberts

The cost of these sessions is £60, which may be paid in cash, cheque payable to 'West Cheshire Junior Development Centre' or by Bank Transfer.

our bank details are

West Cheshire Junior Development Centre

Sort Code: 402020

Account number: 21518380

If paying by bank transfer, please use the following style of reference, U15B followed by your surname and your son's first initial so U15BWilliamsP if I were an U15 boy

I appreciate that clubs and school will be drawing heavily on your purse strings shortly, so if you would prefer, payments may be spread as follows:

3 payments 27/9 (£30) and 18/10 (£30)

although to make life easier for our Treasurer, please could we ask you not to make payments before Friday 27th September"

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West Cheshire U12 / U13 & u14 boys (school years 7, 8 and 9)

will take place at

Calday Grange School Sports Ground
Telegraph Road
Caldy
Wirral
CH48 1NX (opposite Caldy RUFC)

6.15pm - 7.45pm (registration from 6pm)

on the following dates:

Friday 13th September
Friday 20th September
Friday 11th October
Friday 8th November
Friday 15th November
Friday 29th November

so 9 hours of hockey coaching from Lead Coaches Jay Cunliffe, James Gardiner, Jack Redhead and Syd Roberts

The cost of these sessions is £90 which may be paid in cash, cheque payable to 'West Cheshire Junior Development Centre' or by Bank Transfer.

our bank details are

West Cheshire Junior Development Centre

Sort Code: 402020

Account number: 21518380

If paying by bank transfer, please use the following style of reference:

U12B / U13B / U14B followed by your sons surname and first initial eg U12BWilliamsP (if i were to be an U12 boy)

I appreciate that clubs and school will be drawing heavily on your purse strings shortly, so if you would prefer, payments may be spread as follows:

3 payments 13/9 (£30) 11/10 (£30) and 15/11 (£30)

although to make life easier for our Treasurer, please could we ask you not to make payments before Friday 13th September

Please share these details amongst your son's friends at school "

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West Cheshire u12/13/14 Girls (school years 7, 8 and 9)

"Sessions will take place at

Abbey Gate College
Chapel Lane
Saighton
Nr Chester
CH3 6EN

on the following dates:

Sunday 8th September
Sunday 29th September
Sunday 17th November
Sunday 8th December

1pm to 3pm ~ registration at 12.45

so 8 hours of hockey coaching from Lead Coaches Lianne Preston and Tom Williamson, assisted by Kev Mccann & me.

The cost of these sessions is £80 which may be paid in cash, cheque payable to 'West Cheshire Junior Development Centre' or by Bank Transfer.

our bank details are

West Cheshire Junior Development Centre

Sort Code: 402020

Account number: 21518380

If paying by bank transfer, please use the following style of reference:

U12G / U13G / U14G followed by your daughter's surname and first initial eg U12GWilliamsP (if i were to be an U12 girl)

I appreciate that clubs and school will be drawing heavily on your purse strings shortly, so if you would prefer, payments may be spread as follows:

3 payments 8/9 (£27) 17/11 (£27) and 10/12 (£26)

although to make life easier for our Treasurer, please could we ask you not to make payments before Sunday 8th September

Please share these details amongst your daughter's friends at school"