Naismith lambasts hockey's hierarchy (From This Is Local London)

Naismith lambasts hockey's hierarchy

11:08am Tuesday 1st March 2005 in

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Sam Naismith, director of sport at Langley Park School for Boys, has launched a scathing attack on hockey's hierarchy after Kent Schools failed to send any representatives to the South East area finals.

The under-14, 16 and 18 Kent finals were due to be played last Wednesday, but were cancelled because of the inclement weather.

Instead of consulting the schools or the form guide, the Kent Hockey Association (KHA) opted instead to draw the winners out of a hat.

Naismith said: "No account of the relative strengths and weaknesses of the teams were taken into account, and as a result Langley failed to qualify at any level."

An appeal was subsequently lodged, which saw a number of the teams who had been drawn out of the hat offer to drop out of the competition in favour of the county's stronger sides.

It was thus agreed former national final winners Langley Park would represent Kent at under-14, under-16 and under-18 level, and would be joined in the under-16 and under 18 categories by Sutton Valence and Kent College.

Fearing that undue pressure had been applied to the other sides to withdraw from the competition, however, the KHA refused to agree to the move, and so Kent's participation in the event was pulled altogether.

Naismith said: "An incredible decision has prevented many of the kids from realising their dream. There were five teams ready to compete in the tournament, but they were not allowed to do so because of politics."

A KHA spokesman said: "It is with regret that the decision has been made that there will be no representation from any Kent schools at any of the play-offs. This decision was taken by the KHA management committee in light of recent events."