Youngsters remember inspirational teenager

An annual hockey tournament celebrating the life of an inspirational teenage sports leader attracted a record number of players.

Children from primary schools across Newark and Sherwood competed in memory of Sam White, who died in 2013, aged 16, after battling a brain tumour.

Sam, a keen player, spent a lot of time coaching hockey with Mr Tim Burch, president of Newark Hockey Club, who organised the tournament for a fifth time.

He said he was pleased to see so many young people taking part in the sport and competing for the Sam White Trophy.

“This is a great tournament played in memory of Sam,” Mr Burch said.

“Sam would have been 21 this year and would have been delighted to see so many people here.

“I am pleased to see so many children taking part. There has been some impressive hockey played.”

Mr Burch presented the player of the tournament award to nine-year-old Isaac Williams, a pupil at the Mount Church Of England School, Newark.

The school will look after Sam’s hockey stick for a year.

A total of 15 teams competed at Magnus Community Sports Centre, Newark.

Chuter Ede School, Balderton, entered three teams, including one from its base at Fernwood, with the A team retaining the trophy after beating Lowe’s Wong Junior School, Southwell, in the final.

Other schools taking part were: Barnby Road Academy, Sir Donald Bailey Academy, William Gladstone Academy, Mount Church of England, Newark; St Peter’s Cross Keys Academy, Farndon; John Hunt, Balderton; Dean Hole Church Of England, Caunton; Bleasby Church Of England; Coddington Church Of England; Long Bennington Church Of England; and Muskham.

Newark Hockey Club juniors and pupils from Magnus Academy, helped to organise the tournament.

Mrs Emma Marfleet, hockey coach at Barnby Road, said it was a great competition for children to be involved in.

“This is the sort of event Sam would have loved going to,” she said.

“He would have been organising teams, sorting out the scorers and refereeing, and getting involved in any way he could.

“It is brilliant to see more than 160 children taking part in competitive hockey.”

Miss Lucy Napthine, sports coach at William Gladstone, said: “It is a good way to bring everyone together at the end of the season.

“A lot of the children have friends from different schools so it is great for them to play each other.”