Herne Bay Roller Hockey Club

SHAKEN BUT NOT STIRRED:
Herne Bay run Invicta ragged before Godfrey's hat-trick settles SECRHA Cup thriller.

By The Bay Sports Desk, exclusively from the SECRHA rinks.

RHC Invicta needed every ounce of their strength in depth to see off a heroic, numbers-hit Herne Bay side in a SECRHA Cup thriller on Saturday night — and by full time, the 4-1 scoreline flattered the opposition more than a little.

With Herne Bay forced to take to the floor with just four outfield players and not a single substitute to call upon, this had the makings of a mismatch on paper. Unfortunately MIA, somewhere in Northamptonshire, was the young Herne Bay's team captain for this season, enjoying a rather more relaxed Saturday trackside at Silverstone. Timing, as they say, is everything.

What played out instead, over 20 gruelling minutes each way, was a backs-to-the-wall classic that had the away end — and a raucously loud junior section cheering and waving banners from the home stands — on their feet from first whistle to last.

For long stretches, it was Herne Bay playing the better hockey. Simple, disciplined, and utterly committed, they matched and at times outplayed a fully-stocked Invicta squad who had the luxury of legs to spare. That Invicta's superior numbers eventually told is no slight on a Bay side who never stopped competing.

Godfrey's hat-trick does the damage:
The difference in the end came down to Invicta skipper Ben Godfrey, a former Herne Bay player himself, bagging a hat-trick to drag his side clear and effectively decide the contest on numbers alone, against a Bay side running on empty by the closing stages.

Herne Bay's goal came from Finlay Hudson, a strike that also confirmed him as joint-top scorer in the U20s ranks this season alongside Ryan Partridge — some going, given the circumstances he was playing in.

Dottie's final bow:
If there was one moment that summed up the spirit of the night, it belonged to Herne Bay captain that night, Dorothy "Dottie" Thorogood. With youngster Samuel Glover in inspired form between the sticks, Thorogood made the selfless — and shrewd — call to stay on the bench at half time and let the young stopper carry on, rather than throw her own game time straight back in.
It was the mark of a true athlete, and one who knew this was the beginning of the end. Thorogood came on for the final quarter to bring the curtain down on her Herne Bay career before she swaps the Herne Bay rink for the sun, heading to Spain to continue playing next season.

Full time:
RHC Invicta 4-1 Herne Bay RH&SC
A heated affair in every sense, played out in front of a passionate home crowd who's junior section made themselves heard all night long — support that meant the world to a Herne Bay squad who have been run on thin air, and true grit, all season.

From the U20s management:
Speaking after the game, the Herne Bay U20s management team were full of praise for their squad and the club supporter’s backing:

"After the match, the U20's celebration was buzzing in the changing rooms, some of it 'military grade' — unfortunately can not be repeated.

"The team have been competing all season, usually with one sub, two subs if they were lucky. The highlights of their season, as well as competing in a French regional league, have been losing 6-5 to Letchworth RHC, winners of the NYL, having led 3-0 at half-time. And tonight, where the support shown from across the club, especially the junior section, was just …… emotional”.

"We now have an opportunity to build on this. The U20's (U19's/U23's next season) will continue to build on their skills, and gain valuable coaching experience working with the club's junior mixed and female teams. It will require some flexibility with the U19's other commitments, and parents of the junior players will have a big part to play in this”.

The Waterboy

National Youth League Finals — Under 20, Division One
King's Lynn, Lynnsport · 6–7 June 2026

This past weekend our Under 20 squad made the trip to King's Lynn to compete at the National Youth League Finals, representing Herne Bay RHC in the top flight of Under 20 roller hockey in England. Across two days and five matches, they showed exactly what this club is capable of producing — a young team that competes with its head up, plays the game the right way, and never once lets the scoreboard affect its spirit.

The headline result — 5th place — does not tell this story. Not even close.

--- Saturday 6 June ---

The squad's opening match was against RHC Invicta, and it was a tough introduction to the tournament. Herne Bay went down 1–4, with Euan Irvine getting the team's only goal. It was a difficult start, and with it came an early exit from genuine title contention. But what followed across the rest of the weekend was a side that refused to let that define them. Spirits stayed high, and the team came out for their second game with exactly the right mentality.

Game two brought arguably the most frustrating result of the weekend — Herne Bay vs Manchester RSC. The team went into half-time leading 3–2, playing fluid, confident hockey that had Manchester chasing the game. Harry Knowles was outstanding, scoring twice in the first half, with further goals from Finley Hudson, Nathan Kay, and captain Euan Irvine. But Manchester came out a different side in the second period and ran out 7–5 winners. Herne Bay created the chances to stay ahead — they just couldn't make them count when it mattered most.

The squad steadied themselves for game three, and it showed. A composed, controlled performance against Middlesbrough RHC ended in a 3–2 win — the team's only victory of the weekend, but one that demonstrated exactly the kind of hockey they are capable of. Goals from Finley Hudson, Euan Irvine, and Ethan Graham saw the team see out the match with confidence, and it was the perfect way to close out Saturday.

--- Sunday 7 June ---

Sunday brought what many would describe as the team's best hockey of the entire tournament. First up were Ely & Chesterton United RHC. Herne Bay lost 6–4, but the scoreline is misleading. They matched their opponents for large periods of the game, moving the ball crisply and with purpose. Harry Knowles, Euan Irvine, Finley Hudson, and Nathan Kay all got on the scoresheet — a performance full of the kind of confident, purposeful hockey that had been building all weekend.

The final match — against Letchworth, the tournament winners — was in many ways the most telling of the whole weekend, and not for the reason you might expect. Yes, Herne Bay lost 6–5 after leading 3–3 at half-time, with Nathan Kay grabbing two and further goals from Harry Knowles and Euan Irvine. But what stood out wasn't the scoreline — it was the character of the players wearing the Herne Bay shirt.

Knowing that a top-three finish was already beyond reach, this squad played their final game with joy. They took on the eventual champions with a smile, carried the disappointment of the weekend with good humour, and competed against the best team in the division without a hint of self-pity. That kind of maturity — the ability to absorb the pain of a tough tournament and still go out and play your best hockey with the right attitude — is something that cannot be coached. It comes from within, and it speaks volumes about the character of this group.

--- The bigger picture ---

Five games. Five performances that deserved more. The team were in a winning position in every single match they played. What let them down wasn't effort, wasn't commitment, and wasn't quality of play — it was the fine margins of chance conversion that decide tournament hockey. On another day, this squad could easily have walked away with a top-three finish.

It is also worth noting that Herne Bay competed across the entire weekend with just one reserve player. No rotation luxury, no fresh legs when the pressure was on. That makes the performances across both days all the more remarkable.

--- Goalkeepers ---

A huge amount of credit must go to both goalkeepers, who were outstanding throughout.

Dorothy Thorogood — Dottie — kept goal with the composure and command you would expect from someone who has been part of this club for a decade. But this tournament carries extra significance, because it was Dottie's last competitive appearance for Herne Bay RHC.

Dottie joined this club at Under 11 level. She has played through every age group, grown into the senior squad, earned her England colours, and represented her country at the highest level — collecting a European silver medal with the England female squad in 2023. Ten years of dedication, ten years of improvement, ten years of giving everything for this club. That is an extraordinary contribution by any measure, and Dottie leaves with the gratitude, respect, and very best wishes of everyone at Herne Bay RHC.

Stepping in alongside her this weekend — and carrying the torch forward — is Samuel Glover. Still young, already impressive. Sam showed this weekend that the future of goalkeeping at this club is in very safe hands. We look forward to watching him grow.

--- Captain's word ---

Captain Euan Irvine reflected on the weekend:

"My recap of this weekend's games — overall, looking at the results, we came 5th; however, this did not reflect our performance as a team. Together we kept spirits high even after a very early exit from contention in the first game. We played smooth passing hockey throughout the tournament — I would say our main highlight was our ability to keep the ball and play it around every team, including the winners. Yes, it was disappointing to come 5th, and especially having had a lead against Manchester and Letchworth — however, I believe we played some of our best hockey as a team on the Sunday, while also enjoying ourselves the entire weekend. Well done to the goalkeepers Dottie and Sam, who both gave great performances."

--- Final word ---

To every player, coach, and parent who made the trip to King's Lynn — thank you. This squad has plenty to be proud of, and plenty for the club to build on.

Well done, Herne Bay U20s. We are proud of every one of you.

2026 National Cup - Play Offs Draw: Under 20

Ties to be played Saturday, 18.04.26
Venue - Bay Sports Arena, Herne Bay CT6 7NS

16:00 - U20 - QF1 - Sheffield Wildcats RHC v Letchworth RHC
17:15 - U20 - QF2 - Manchester RHC v Invicta RHC
18:30 - U20 - SF1 - Herne Bay RHC v Winner of QF1
20:00 - U20 - SF2 - ECU RHC v Winner of QF2

Tickets on sale now
https://englandrollerhockey.org/event-6512011

Grand Finals Day - 30.05.26 in Herne Bay

Drawn by the National Competitions Secretary - Ana Martins

Want to play Roller Hockey we are recruiting new and existing players to join the club. Please contact [email protected]

**Herne Bay Match Report**

First Game: Herne Bay vs Soham
Final Score: Herne Bay 0 – 8 Soham

Herne Bay started the game positively and managed to keep Soham at bay for the opening few minutes. However, once Soham found the breakthrough, they took control and never looked back.

Despite the difficult challenge, the Herne Bay girls showed great character and fought hard right until the final whistle, displaying the never-give-up spirit that defines the team.

2nd Game: Letchworth vs Herne Bay
Final Score: Letchworth 1 – 2 Herne Bay

After suffering a 5-1 defeat in their previous meeting with Letchworth, the Herne Bay girls were determined to turn the tables and claim a victory.

The match was a tight and competitive affair throughout. Both teams traded attacks in the first half, with plenty of shots being saved by both goalkeepers. The first half ended level at 1-1, with the game looking very evenly matched.

In the second half, Herne Bay’s captain stepped up and scored a crucial goal to give her team a 2-1 lead. From that point on, the girls showed excellent teamwork and defensive resilience, working together to protect their lead and see out the game.

The final whistle brought huge celebrations as Herne Bay secured their first win of the league this season. A well-deserved reward for their determination and fighting spirit.

Well done to all the girls on a tough but ultimately positive day and the parents and guardians for the support. We also thank our Referee Samuel.

I’m Particularly proud of the character shown in the second game and the fantastic team effort to grind out the win. Congratulations Team HB.

Tomorrow our girls visit ECRHA for round 2 of the U13’s females league. They have 2 tough games agains Soham and Letchworth.

We wish them all good luck and to enjoy a great team experience.

April 10th, our seniors travel to Holland for the 2026 - 8 Nations Tournament' organised by Valkenswaard RC. We wish them luck as ambassadors of the sport from the birthplace of Roller Hockey.

'The Future is Bright, the Future is Blue and White 🏑💙🤍💙

Tonight the HB seniors take on Soham RHC in the 2026 Senior National Cup play-offs. Set to be an exciting event against one of the current top clubs in English Roller Hockey, doors open from 1930 onwards. Come and support your local club, from the birth place of Roller Hockey.

'The Future is Bright, the future is Blue and White'

Today saw Herne Bay's U15s team make the journey to Farnham to compete in their last tournament of the season.
Unfortunately both games were played as friendlies due to no goalkeeper.

But on a brighter note one of our newest players Harry got to make his debut and even though he's only been playing a month he kept a cool head.

First game against Farnham.

The game started off with Farnham hitting the Herne bay boys with their fast pace of play, trying to disrupt our defence, but Farnham's more experienced players managed to keep finding the back of the net.
Shout out to Sophia from Farnham for going in goal for us.

The second game against Maidstone.

This game was a bit more levelled out in game play with the ball making its way into both halves. Even though some of the Maidstone players towered over ours, they managed to keep them from towering over us with the score with a 3-1 loss.

Big shout out to Zac from HBU for stepping in goal for the boys.

Great hockey played and the boys never stopped fighting and put 100% effort in with both games being tough.