Between January 9 and 11, the English Boys’ School Championships took place in Whitgift, London. Ten U16 and ten U18 teams from across England participated, having secured their spots through regional qualification matches. Divided into two groups each, four semifinalists were determined in each age category. The U16 final was held on Saturday, while the U18 final took place on Sunday.
Trent College secured the U16 championship title with the help of Victor Häbel (HTC Uhlenhorst). Victor delivered an outstanding performance, scoring a total of 8 goals, including the winning goals in both the semifinal and final. He was one of the team’s most crucial players. Victor's father, Christian Häbel (President of HTC Uhlenhorst), was highly impressed by the event: "The school's facilities and the tournament's organization were top-notch. School sports evidently hold great importance in England. Even Victor's school principal traveled from Nottingham to support him. It was heartening to see foreign players being well-integrated into their teams. One notable observation was that none of the players were occupied with their phones during breaks. It was a fantastic event that made both players and the numerous parents in attendance feel very welcome."Philipp Ackel, from the Stanford & Ackel agency, has been connecting hockey players with English boarding schools for years. He also attended the tournament to support Victor and other students:
"It was wonderful to see how well the boys are doing at their schools. Paul Spies has even become the captain of his school team at Oakham School, and Alex Stadler, at just 15 years old, had the opportunity to play as a goalkeeper for the U18 team. German hockey players are a valuable asset to English schools, and for the boys and girls, it’s an incredible experience. They are part of an excellent school system and can pursue their passion abroad. The feedback from players, parents, and coaches was overwhelmingly positive."
Stanford & Ackel supports families free of charge in selecting the right school and assists with securing scholarships.
For more information, contact us at 089/ 6001 38 50.