Cullen praised the support given to the club and admitted that the northern element to Bowdon’s relegation was a key factor. “We have produced quite a few players who have gone on to play junior and international level, as well as the Olympics, and we are pretty friendly most of the time,” she said.
“But this has been a long time coming, perhaps four or five years. It was hard work to keep going and we knew eventually it would come. It has worked its way up the country, with Sutton Coldfield, Olton, Cannock, Leicester [all being relegated]. We are are the only team now you can’t play for and be in the GB programme [due to geography].”
Bowdon have relied on home-grown talent and fielded five Under-17 players on the bench at the weekend. The hope now is to achieve a winning mentality away from the Premier Division for a team which has lost 10 of 16 league games thus far.
“It’s a tough environment to learn in but they will be back stronger next season,” added Cullen. “We hope to not only bounce back to the Premier Division but also bounce back to winning.
“We could have done things differently, at the end of the day I am the coach and it stops with me. But we need to play the next two games, keep our heads high and give the youngsters some exposure and see how it goes.”
Race on for survival
With two matches remaining, five clubs are in a fight to finish outside the second relegation spot. It could not be tighter, with four clubs currently sitting on 17 points and Beeston one point ahead. Whoever finishes in ninth will face a play-off against the winner of Division One North and South.
Meanwhile, Beeston, who sit in fifth place, could even reach the play-offs if they can win their last two matches, though Buckingham realistically need one point to secure the fourth and final play-off berth. Beeston are currently the most northerly side left in the Premier Division and will secure top-flight status if they beat in-form East Grinstead this weekend.
The regional divide in domestic hockey also stretches to the men’s game, where Beeston men could also be the most northerly team left in the men’s Premier Division if Brooklands Manchester University are relegated.
