Roller Hockey Team Ely & Chesterton United (ECU) To Compete in Women’s Senior European Roller Hockey Championships
European Champions League Cambridge, 20/10/2024 – Ely & Chesterton United Roller Hockey Club (ECU RHC) is pleased to announce that their Senior Women’s team, made up of talented young women from in and around Cambridge, has achieved an unprecedented milestone in the sport off roller hockey.
After a year of hard work, commitment, and camaraderie, the team won the inaugural England Roller Hockey Female Premier League in June 2023. This victory has earned them a place in the qualifiers for the Women’s Senior European Female Champions League, a competition organized by the World Skate Organisation, where they will compete against the top roller hockey teams in Europe.
The journey started eight years ago, when a group of girls between the age of 7 and 9, most of whom had never skated before, picked up roller hockey for the first time.
Supported by their families and guided by expert coaches, the team bonded through friendship and an unrelenting drive to succeed. From local county competitions to the international stage, ECU RHC Girls and Women have defied the odds, setting the standard for female roller hockey in England.
Most of them formed the backbone of the England U17 national squad that won a Silver Medal at the 2023 European Championships in Correggio, Italy achieving an historic result for England Roller Hockey.
A Call for Support
With limited financial support from the club, ECU RHC faces significant campaign costs. They have launched a crowdfunding campaign on GoFundMe to cover travel and accommodation expenses for both home and away games.
Road to the Champions League – Local Press Coverage
The club and team staff are open to local press coverage of their journey to the Champions League, with access to training sessions and county or Premier League matches. This marks the first time in England roller hockey history that a female team has participated in the WSE European Champions League. We believe this is a powerful success story for girls in sport, especially as a local team paving the way for many more girls to enjoy this amazing sport.
Next Fixtures
England Premier League:
3rd Nov 2024, ECU vs Colchester 3pm, Middlesbrough vs ECU 6pm
Middlesbrough Sports Village, TS4 3AE
Champions League qualifiers:
ECU RHC vs Utigen (Swi)
Home fixture: 9th Nov 2024, 5:45pm, Herne Bay Arena, CT6 7NS
Away Fixture 16th Nov 2024 Uttigen (Switzerland)
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