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Gloucester City Ladies 1st XI enjoy dream start to season as they lead National League Division 1 North

All Areas > Sport > Hockey

Author: Roger Jackson, Posted: Thursday, 16th October 2025, 09:00

Gloucester City are top of National League Division 1 North Gloucester City are top of National League Division 1 North

These are exciting times for the flagship ladies’ team at Gloucester City Hockey Club.

A stunning opening to the campaign has catapulted them to the top of National League Division 1 North after winning three and drawing one of their opening four games.

“It’s been a dream start,” coach Trevor Done told The Local Answer.

Indeed it has with Saturday’s emphatic 6-2 over win Beeston, who won 16 of their 18 league games last season, giving them a one point advantage over the chasing pack in the 10-strong division.

That chasing pack includes Leeds and Pendle Forest who have already been beaten by Gloucester this season.

Division 1 North is just one level below the Premier Division where high-fliers such as Hampstead & Westminster and Surbiton play, so the Gloucester team captained by centre-back Chloe O’Donoghue really has made an eye-watering start to the campaign.

“It’s still very early in the season but to be where we are at the moment is some achievement,” said Done, who is in his fourth season as coach.

“Gloucester is a community club, the girls who play for us have been coached at the club, they’ve come through the Gloucester system.

“In every game we want to be hard to beat while playing the way we want to play, and hopefully that gets us results.

“Momentum is everything. It gives you confidence and allows you to play with more freedom, at the moment we’re in a good place.”

They certainly are and they have really kicked on after ending the 2024/25 campaign in fifth place, their best yet.

“Each season we’re trying to get a bit better,” continued Done.

“Can we improve, can we keep on enjoying it?

“We’ve got a really nice balance of older players and younger players.

“The team works because they work hard for each other, they get on with each other and they support each other.”

Done’s wife Emma and daughter Poppy, who has just turned 17, are key players in the team.

“They both play in midfield,” added Done. “We play a fluid 3-2-3-2 with three central defenders, two defensive midfielders, three attacking midfielders and two forwards.”

And it’s a system that is clearly working with visitors Beeston unable to match them at the weekend as Jess Roe scored a hat-trick with other goals from Nancy Whittlestone, Sally Walton and Ella-Rose Grabham.

“We’ve got a very good blend, we’ve got different threats,” added Done, who although delighted with his team’s start is not getting carried away.

“The first aim is 20 points, that makes us safe. It would be lovely if we were still top at the end of the season but that’s not on our mind.”

And they’ve got another tough test on Saturday when they host second-placed Buckingham.

Gloucester are the leading goalscorers in the division with 15 and have the best goal difference – 10 – but Done warned: “Buckingham will have ambitions to be top of the table.”

 

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