Finals 2017: Kingfisher Korfball Club
- Club name: Kingfisher Korfball Club
- Club colours: Colbalt Blue
- Location: East Malling, Kent
- Year founded: 1980
Heading into a play-off competition as the lowest ranked qualifier might cause some nerves among a team – but that is not the case for the experienced heads at Kingfisher.
For the fifth time in their history, which dates back to being founded in 1980, the Kent-based club will be involved at the business end of the England Korfball season with their berth in the LFF Grand Finals.
Their qualification came about courtesy of a fourth place finish in the league, the last spot available to reach the semi-finals.
With this in mind, it would be easy to write off the chances of Kingfisher, especially as they face a Trojans side looking to win a 10th consecutive title.
However, club chairman Steve Kirby said this is not the case.
“It’s all about two games”
“We are not here by chance, as we repeatedly make the playoffs,” Steve said.
“This season started with tough games against Bec and Trojans, a steady mid season that made a top position possibly and then a hard push to maintain going right to the wire.
“Now all that is forgotten about. It’s all about two games.
“Coach Ross Carr-Taylor will field the best team he has with the attitude to go out there to win.
“He will be fully aware that Trojans can take their game to another level, especially in this atmosphere.
“We just need to play our game hit the goal percentage and make our own luck.”
Although they have never been crowned champions, Kingfisher have experienced success at the Grand Finals before in that they qualified for the International Korfball Federation Europa Shield in Catalonia, where they came seventh.
The regular season had a nail biting finish for the side as, after finishing with seven wins and seven losses, Kingfisher had to sit and wait to learn their fate.
Having played all their games, Kingfisher would have been denied a semi-final spot if either Nomads or Tornadoes won their last matches of the season.
But defeats against Bec and Norwich Knights respectively meant neither side were able to get past the 14 points earned by their rivals.
Whatever the outcome of the LFF Grand Final, Steve said the club can still consider the season a very successful one.
He said: “For the last three years, we have focused a lot of time and energy in youth development.
“Now, we have our Under-9’s coming second in the division, Under-11’s with two teams, again with a runner up spot and a fifth in theirs, Under-13’s coming fourth, with a large majority of the juniors playing the sport for the first time.
“The seniors have wiped the board this year.
“Kingfisher in the play-off finals and Kingfisher 2 the SERL Division One & Kent League Division One champions.
“Our third team K-Kingfisher are Kent League Division Two champions while our Warriors came third.
“We also have strong participation in the Kent Finals with four teams playing.”
You can watch Kingfisher on their quest for glory at the K2 in Crawley on 6th-7th May. Click here to buy your tickets.
