Senior Boys’ Hockey Tour to Lisbon

Friday 14th to Monday 17th February saw 21 members of Grosvenor’s 1st and 2nd XI boys’ hockey teams embark on an action-packed trip to Lisbon, Portugal, during which they participated in two highly competitive matchers against local opposition, as well as a number of enjoyable leisure activities.

Following departure and arrival on the Friday, Saturday morning was spent strolling around the area and enjoying the sunshine before a team meeting was held, focusing on goals for tour itself, as well as the rest of the season. This was followed by the first match of the tour, versus a ‘Lisbon Casuals XI’, from which Grosvenor emerged victorious by an impressive margin of five goals to one - goals coming from Ethan Jackson (2), Lloyd Andrews, Jake Murray and Rishab Reddy. After such a hard-fought, impressive victory, the evening was spent enjoying the spectacle of Benfica v Braga in the former’s famed ‘Stadium of Light’ arena.

Sunday 16th, meanwhile, saw the GGS contingent spend the morning at a Treetop Adventure Course before participating in its second match in the afternoon, this time against a ‘Lisbon Select XI’. On this occasion the scores were tied all-square at 4-4 at the final whistle, with Grosvenor’s goals coming from Conor Morrison, Charlie McKeown, Ethan Jackson and Rishab Reddy, before the encounter was decided on run-ins, with the hosts running out as narrow victors.

Following an evening of bowling on Sunday night, Monday morning was then spent at an Oceanarium before the tour moved on to Lisbon City Centre for an afternoon of shopping.

Many thanks to all who made this highly successful tour possible – namely travel operator ‘Living with the Lions’, and in particular former GGS pupil David McLaughlin, who co-ordinated the trip, as well as the three members of Grosvenor staff who attended – hockey stalwarts Mr Young and Mr Brittain, as well as former pupil and long-time coach Andrew Kelly. 

Hopefully this incredibly positive experience for the 21 participating pupils will now translate into some impressive results over the remainder of the season.