All Arrived Safely!!!

We arrived safely at Philadelphia airport and met our long lost friend Jake Howarth and then departed on our school bus to Gettysburg. After what seemed to be a very long bus journey we arrived at the beautiful campus!

Thanks to Coach Janczyk and Perzinski for everything!

Jay Moore rolled up a few hours later with what looked like his body guard driver! 

So the 23 have been assembled! 11 pizzas and 5 bottles of soda later they are tired out after a long day of travel!

They are a great bunch of lads and all the parents back home should be proud. 

Today we have learnt that Ben Reddy can eat 2 pizzas to himself easy! Alex Russell does not share drinks, Ewing gets stir crazy and Rowarth is a good lad! We have a new name for Joe Baythorpe as christened by Smithy and I think Elliott Hurry may be the most low maintenance, laid back kid alive!

We have moved in to Patrick Dorms on Campus and the lads have been fed and all apparel given out, Boys are happy!

All other teams arrive tomorrow so a lie in for us! 

We have been positioned in the top division and will have our first warm up game tomorrow, I will post the schedule then!

Night

Departing!

2011 (and friends) vs 2013 Knights & Farewell BBQ!!!

The final day of Practice included a game at 1pm against the 2011 Knights & Friends including Matt Boyd, Vince Cara, Sam Dexter, James Hewitt & Joe Dickerson who all represented England U19's in Finland in 2012 and also Coach Mike Armstrong  (England U19 2008 and European Champs in 2012).

The two teams met four weeks ago and the score and play was much different, the 2013 lads showed how much they have improved over the last 4 weeks of intensive training and have really started to believe in themselves!

The format of the game was that we would play 2011 vs 2013 for a half and then mix up the team for the second, the 2013 Knights ran out 5-4 winners in teh first half despite a great come back by 2011 in the 2nd Quarter.

Thanks to everyone that came down to watch the game to show their support.

After the game the BBQ had already been set up by Simon Smith, Debbie Baxter, Alison Cara, Chris Russell, Sarah Vav, Bruce Fayle and Dave Baythorpe, they did a fantastic job of running the BBQ and thanks also to Helen for collecting the money!

Thank you to everyone that donated food and donated cash! It was great to see 2011 & 2013 players and parents supporting the event and getting to know each other!

We also had a raffle with some great prizes, a big thanks to everyone that donated! We raised £583.20 + £50 from the Man Utd Ticket Auction (thanks to Mr Baxter) on the day! Thanks to Debbie Baxter for organising!

Thanks to Emily Baythorpre for making these excellent cupcakes sold fro at least £5 per box, thanks for all your efforts!

The day was a great success and I was surprised with a lovely Gift and Card from the players!, it was a video camera and something we have needed at Knights for a very longtime, I cant thank the players and parents enough for their continued support and this great gift!

Thanks to Simon Smith for the great photos!

 Next stop USA!

Check back for reports from the 2nd Knights tour starting on the 26th June 2013.

Meet the Attack!

Attack

#10 Steven Ewing

Stockport

One of the Tri Captains on the team, he has played Sr Lacrosse for a while and is a leader on the field and has a lot of experience, Steve is great off ball and has a crafty shot inside.

Rides very well and uses his speed to get around the field.

#23 Alex Winton

Timperley

The righty is a great dodger and feeder and will test his match up, he has great hands and a great jump shot.

 

#5 Alex Russell

Poynton

Alex is a heads up player and can feed or create his own shot, he dodges well from behind goal and has a number of ways to beat you.

#6 Joe Cara

Brooklands

Joe is a big powerful kid and will back you into the goal, he is a great with time and room and possess a powerful shot.

#1 Joe Baythorpe

Cheadle

Joe is a crafty kid who works hard off ball, he has all the shots inside and can crank dodging from X or from the wing!

#19 Ben Smith

Heaton Mersey

Ben is a great feeder and can create from behind or from the top of the box, he has a great split dodge and is a precision passer.

Meet the Midfield

Midfield

#30 Tim Collins

Brooklands

Face off specialist, he not just a FOGO and plays both sides of the field well, solid Short Stick Defender and can play Offense, has a great shot on the run and has great stick handling, mature beyond his years!

#20 Ciaran Johnson

Poynton

Ciaran is an amazing athlete and will be a short stick defensive middie who is also great in transition, he will see time also as an oiffensive midefield player who has amazing speed and a hard shot on the run and also with time and room, he is a real hard worker! Also plays Rugby!

#18 Scott Dagnanleach

Norbury

Athletic Middie with great leadership ability, is one of the Tri-Captains on the team. Scott is a dynamic athlete with great passing and shooting skills. Is an energiser Bunny in midfield and can run all day!

#11 Jay Moore

Manchester Wacs

The Australian/English/American hybrid is a great Offensive midfield player, is a smart off ball player who will test his match up in a number of ways. Can also Faceoff

#14 Tim Nicol

Timperley

Tim is a smart player and can create his own shot as well as bring other players into the game, is a great feeder off the dodge and has a great range of shooting.

#94 Joe Harris

Timperley

One of the hardest working players on the team, works hard on both ends of the field. Has great shooting technique on the run.

#3 Tiegan Bancroft

Stockport

“Vanilla” is the engine room of the team in midfield and will see time as a short stick defensive Middie and in transition, has improved immensely and has

raised his game in the last few months, communicates very well on Def and leads by example!

#33 Elliott Condren

Cheadle

Is a great two way middie and face off man, will also be our back up LSM, he does a great job of playing Defense whilst being just as dangerous on the offensive end and has a great shot on the run. He is good size to play both positions and uses his size to gain an advantage over his opponents.

#16 Jake Howarth

Poynton/Cape Cod

Jake now plays Lacrosse in Cape Cod after his family moved to the US last year, his experience playing US lacrosse will be invalulable and will be a two way midfielf play

he has a cannon from the outside and will stretch any defence.

 

#42 Matt Rowarth

Poynton

A converted Attackman, he is a smart player with good one on one dodging skills and great outside rip, can be as good as he wants to be and is very passionate about the game!

Meet the Knights Defence!

Defence

#40 Will Allsop

Brooklands

Great communicator and position defender, skilled stick handler who has all the checks when required. Will has a very bright future!

#15 Josh Peachey

Timperley

A Leader of the defence, a tall rangy kid with great athletic ability is one of the Tri-Captains on the team!

#25 Charlie Edwards

Timperley

Another position Defender with good communication, will not punish you with checks but uses angles and knowledge to shut down any offensive player.

#78 Grady Jackson-Fayle

Timperley

Also plays Soccer and Rugby and athletic LSM (can also play straight Def) he has great speed, stick skills and is a threat on offense.

#22 Ben Reddy

Poynton

“The flow” is a very smart and athletic LSM, he uses his stick skills to clear the ball, he can Face off, play straight Defence or play off the wings, communicates very well and has great knowledge of the game, a threat coming down the field with the ball in his stick.

Meet The Knights 2013

Meet the 2013 English Knights:

Playing at the Gait Cup & Bison Brawl, PA, USA from June 26th - 3rd July 2013.

Follow us this week when we will introduce you to the Goalkeepers, Defence, Midfield and Attack.
Goalies:

#2 Will Baxter

Club:Brooklands

Athletic Goalkeeper with fast hands and good stick handling. Will Clears very well and makes great decisions out of the goal. Organsises and communicates with his Defence very well and understands Defence.

#7 Elliott Hurry

Club:Heaton Mersey

Tall rangy keeper, great stopper uses his body well and has great technique. Good clearer with great outlet passing. Communicates well and has a great understanding of Defencive schemes.