Some seasons are good. Some are memorable. The 2025/26 season at North Stafford Hockey Club was something else entirely, a campaign that saw promotions stacked on promotions, a national final, and a junior side taking on the very best in the country.

From the seniors to the juniors, this was a year where hard work on the training pitch translated into silverware, promotions, and pride across the whole club. Here's a look back at the standout stories of the season.

Men's 1s: Promotion

There's nothing quite like a promotion that's been earned the hard way, and that's exactly what our Men's 1st delivered last season. After a number of challenging campaigns, the 1s have been promoted from Midlands Division 3 West up to Division 2. This is a huge step forward for our Men's 1s.

This wasn't a fluke. It was the product of a squad and coaching group that stuck together through tougher years and came out the other side stronger. Division 2 hockey awaits next season, and with the momentum the 1s have built, the club can't wait to see what they do with it.

Women's 2s: Champions of Division 5 North West

The Women's 2nd capped off a superb season by winning the Division 5 North West League outright champions, and promoted as a result. It's the kind of result that defines a season, and the squad thoroughly deserve the recognition for what they've achieved together.

With the introduction of a 4th Women's team ahead of this season, it's amazing to see the junior pipeline contributing to the success of a promotion.

Men's 6s: Promotion

While the headlines often go to the top teams, one of the best parts of this season was watching the club's strength in depth show up on the pitch and nowhere was more prevalant than in the Men's 6th. The 6s have been promoted from Midlands Division 10 North West up to Division 9 North West, a brilliant achievement for a team that embodies exactly what a growing, ambitious club should look like.

It's a reminder that success at North Stafford isn't just happening at the top, it's happening throughout the whole men's section.

U12 Boys: Midlands Champions and Top-5 in the Country

If one story defined the club's junior section this season, it was the U12 Boys' remarkable run to becoming Midlands Tournament Champions. They didn't just qualify, they went through some of the toughest opposition in the region to get there, beating Beeston in the semi-final and Repton in the final to lift the title and book their place at the National Tournament.

And they didn't stop there. At the Tier 1 National Finals, the U12s went toe-to-toe with the best youth teams in the country, finishing an outstanding 5th in the nation with two wins and two losses from the tournament. For a group of U12s, that's a phenomenal achievement and by all accounts, an unforgettable experience for the boys involved.

This is a group to keep a very close eye on. If this is where they are at U12, the future looks incredibly bright as they continually develop.

U18s: Tier 1 National Finalists

The Boys U18s capped off their season with a trip to the Tier 1 Plate Final, coming away as runners-up after a great game against a strong Sutton Coldfield side. It wasn't the win, but it was still a brilliant achievement for the boys to be proud of.

With players at this level coming through the club's junior system, it bodes very well for the strength of the senior teams in the years ahead.

There's an extra layer to these stories that makes it even more special. This was a landmark year for the Lewis family, with four family members promoted with their respective teams in the same season. Marnie captained the Women's 2s alongside her daughter Efe, while Seb captained the Men's 6s playing alongside his son Ezra. Two parent-child captaincies, two promotions, one family that's the sort of story that sums up what a club like North Stafford is all about.

A Club Moving in the Right Direction

Three promotions. A Midlands title. A national final. A top-five national finish. And a family story that captures exactly why people love being part of this club.

Put it all together, and 2025/26 stands out as one of the most successful seasons in recent memory for North Stafford Hockey Club, across the men's, women's and junior sections alike. It's testament to the players, captains, coaches and volunteers who put the work in week after week, and to a club culture that clearly has plenty of ambition left.

The bar has been set high. Roll on 2026/27.

Want to be part of something growing and ambitious? North Stafford Hockey Club is always on the lookout for new players of all ages and abilities. Get in touch to find out more.