The stage is set here in Bowden, South Manchester for a gigantic clash on Sunday afternoon in the EuroHockey Cup Winners Cup competition between two clubs with vast experience of European hockey, the hosts Bowdon Hightown and Amsterdam, with the winners almost certain to face the Germans Rot Weiss Koln or Campo Villa de Madrid.
Amsterdam, who will be looking to win their 18th European Gold medal start favourites to win the competition. Loaded with Dutch international players and with English International and former Hightown player Rachel Walsh dominant on the right of their defence they appear to be the team to beat. Amsterdam are currently second in the Dutch National League.
Although Hightown Bowdon can claim only one European Gold, when they beat Berliner in Rotterdam in 1996 to win this competition, they have had a remarkable season. They have already won the National League, the National Indoor title and are favourites to complete the National treble when they face Reading in the Cup Final next month. Former Great Britain and England striker Tina Cullen Hightown’s 39 year old player coach is still slotting in goals finishing once again top goal scorer in the League this season with 24 gaols taking her all time total to a record 324 over 100 ahead of her nearest rival. They have also built a solid defence around Lyndsay French and England international Sally Walton conceding just 12 goals in their 18 National League encounters. However before the vital game against Amterdam they have to face the Belgium club Royal Uccle tomorrow (Friday) and Alta Boriispol from the Ukraine on Saturday.
Dieter Hill, the Bowdon Hightown manager, with half an eye on the practising Spanish team, told me that he was happy to have a fully fit squad who have been back up to their high performance level since their defeat in their final league match at Canterbury. “A real wake up call was not such a bad thing.”
