Finals 2017: Bearsted Korfball Club
- Club name: Bearsted Korfball Club
- Club colours: Purple
- Location: Maidstone, Kent
- Year founded: 1998
With a good record at recent playoffs including memories of last year’s success fresh in the minds of their players – Bearsted go into this year’s playoffs aiming to maintain their top flight status.
It may have been a tricky season in the England Korfball League (EKL) for Bearsted, losing all 14 of their matches. But Chairman Chris Beale says their experiences this season will stand them in good stead and will give their players an edge in the playoffs.
Developed as a club and a team
Chris said: “I truly believe that this season we have really developed as a club and a team and this was reflected in some of the results we had this season. We really pushed some teams to the limit and were unlucky in some instances to not get the result.
“We have also seen the emergence of some of our younger players who have really stepped up to the challenge of playing national league korfball.”
For the successful clubs at this season’s playoffs, the prospect of playing in an expanded ten-team EKL is an exciting one. Chris said: “Having a ten team EKL is a great opportunity for our club and other teams looking to get promoted in the playoffs.
“The standard of korfball in the EKL is so high that getting promoted into an eight team league can be a struggle for a newly promoted team. I believe it will really give these teams a chance to retain their EKL status and develop their players alongside some of the country’s best players.”
Experienced mixed with young talent
Last season Bearsted secured promotion with two wins from their four playoff games. This year will mark their fourth trip to the playoffs, and the third in a row, with their only unsuccessful appearance coming in 2014/15.
It is that experience mixed with young talent that Chris hopes will bring Bearstead the promotion. He said: “What we do have at Bearsted is a good mix of young and older talent with different levels of experience playing in a tournament environment which I think will stand us in good stead.”
The top three of the five playoff teams will be England Korfball League sides next season.
Find out if Bearsted will be one of those on 6th-7th May at K2 Crawley. Click here to buy your tickets.
