To celebrate the opening, a special match was organized between the current first XI squad, led by Head of Hockey Andy Good (8950), and a legends squad coached by his predecessor, David Wray.

David Wray, who taught at Elizabeth College from 1985 to 2018, was instrumental in the school’s hockey success. Under his guidance, many boys represented the West of England in various age groups while still at school. Wray also developed a program that produced players like Ben Lanoe (8619), Kelvin King (8272), Andrew (10004) and Adam Clark (9801), and Andrew Oxburgh (10217), who all went on to represent England. For this celebratory match, Wray was able to bring back several of these accomplished alumni to form the legends squad.

The match was a promising sign for the current team, who had enjoyed a successful 2023/24 season. They began the game energetically, creating several chances before falling behind 1-0. The game was dynamic, with opportunities at both ends, and George Le Roux equalized for the students, making it 1-1. However, the legends demonstrated their skill with a fluid move to take a 2-1 lead, extending it to 3-1 by halftime.

Despite the setback, the students made a strong comeback in the second half, scoring two goals to level the game at 3-3. As the match headed into the final quarter, it remained evenly balanced. Unfortunately for the students, the legends managed to clinch a winning goal with just a minute remaining, ending the match at 4-3.

The game was officiated by former Head of PE and Head of Cricket Mike Kinder and Phil Roussel (6720), the College’s Head Groundsman and a lifelong supporter of College hockey. This memorable match was a fitting tribute to the new facility and an excellent way to honour former players and coaching staff.