Our 2026 Netherlands Hockey and Football Tour was a tremendous success!

Sixty-five King's Ely Senior and Sixth Form students from Years 9 to 13, and eight members of staff, spent the first five days of their half term exploring and playing the sport that they love in and around the town of Valkenburg.

Football wise, the boys enjoyed an exciting mixture of training sessions and evening matches against three local clubs. Training at the impressive Walram facility, they benefited from expert guidance led by the Masterclass coaching team, with opportunities to then put this into practice during their fixtures. Playing under the floodlights on both grass and astro-pitches was a particular highlight, while visiting the clubs gave them a real appreciation of the thriving local football scene and the excellent facilities available. 

In terms of results across the three days, the boys finished unbeaten, opening with a convincing 6–2 victory against Susteren, followed by a competitive 2–2 draw against OVCS, and a brilliant 3–1 win against Schimmert!

Mr Joshua Jordan said: "There was a great team dynamic in the squad, with boys from both year groups mixing well and enjoying the experience together. They represented the school brilliantly, and were a great group to coach and spend time with throughout the week. It was a thoroughly enjoyable tour, with plenty of lasting memories to bring home."

Hockey wise, three girls' teams and one boys' team each played three competitive matches against club squads from HC Nova, HC Peel en Maas, HC Concordia, and HC Genk, plus they had super training sessions with independent coaches from Masterclass!

Miss Chanre Bond said: "There was a good mix of results, with everyone playing brilliantly and gaining so much. Huge congratulations to our Players of the Week: Zoe, Annabelle, Charlotte, and Will! A hugely successful and enjoyable tour. Playing international opposition and immersing ourselves in a different sporting culture was a fantastic experience for everyone."

Interwoven into the tour itinerary were plenty of excursions and cultural experiences too - tobogganing in the hills above Valkenburg, a trip to a waterpark in Germany, a visit to Valkenburg's famous pancake house, and lots of opportunities to learn about the town's history, to name just some.

What a fantastic experience for everyone involved. Kudos to all students for their superb energy and enthusiasm, to all the staff who made it happen, and to our families for all their support!