Performance Women's Hockey

Loughborough Students Hockey Club offers outstanding opportunities for competitive play, with our first teams competing at some of the highest levels in the UK. This includes the England Hockey Premier League (outdoor), British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) National Premier League as well as the Midlands Division (indoor).

We promote a culture built on fairness, respect, and team success. Every player is supported equally to thrive both individually and collectively, contributing to a strong, driven, and welcoming squad environment.

Loughborough University invests over £2 million each year into performance sport and its facilities, ensuring that our student-athletes have access to everything they need to succeed.

Led by Head Coach Jamie Cachia, the Hockey Programme delivers a professional and structured environment that includes expert coaching and access to our state-of-the-art training and competition venues.

Hockey at Loughborough is where performance meets opportunity, on and off the pitch. Whether you're aiming for national honours or personal bests, this is your platform to grow and compete at the highest level.

Benefits

2 games per week - competing in the England Hockey Premier League and BUCS
3 team training pitch sessions
2 weekly tailored strength and conditioning sessions at Powerbase Gym
Individual skill development sessions
Team video analysis
Water-based and sand dressed hockey pitches
Comprehensive Performance Support, including access to physiotherapy, nutrition, psychology, physiology, and more
Performance Lifestyle support to help you balance elite sport with academic success
Scholarship opportunities for athletes who demonstrate exceptional talent and commitment

Our star alumni

Laura Unsworth stood outside with grass and trees in the background

Laura Unsworth MBE

BSc Accounting and Financial Management graduate

Hockey

  • European and Olympic Gold medallist
  • Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Gold medallist
Giselle Ansley on a green hockey pitch holding a hockey stick

Giselle Ansley MBE

BSc Sport and Exercise Science graduate

Hockey

  • European and Olympic Gold medallist
  • Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Gold medallist

Nicola White MBE

BSc Applied Sports Science graduate

Hockey

  • European and Olympic Gold medallist
Maddie Hinch stood in front of a purple background and smiling at the camera

Maddie Hinch MBE

BSc Sport and Exercise Science graduate

Hockey

  • European and Olympic Gold medallist
  • FIH GK of the year; 2015, 2017
  • Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Gold medallist

Hannah MacLeod MBE

BSc Sport and Exercise Science graduate

Hockey

  • European and Olympic Gold medallist
Ellie Rayer on the hockey pitch

Ellie Rayer

BSc Sports Technology current student

Hockey

  • Junior Performance Player of the Year 2017
  • England Senior
  • Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Gold medallist
Izzy Petter on a blue hockey pitch holding a hockey stick

Izzy Petter

Hockey

  • Tokyo Olympic Broze medallist
  • Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Gold medallist
Lorna Mackenzie on a blue hockey pitch holding a hockey stick

Playing hockey at Loughborough mimics a professional environment, with access to full time support staff such as nutritionists, physiotherapists, performance lifestyle mentors and strength and conditioning coaches. I am proud to be a part of the team as we push each other on the pitch to be the best we can. We all share the goal of winning BUCS and performing well in the Premier League, it’s like we are a big family.

Lorna Mackenzie
BSc Sport and Exercise Science

Coaching staff

Jamie Cachia

Jamie Cachia

Head Coach

As a player Jamie was a Scottish senior international goalkeeper, with over 50 international caps, being selected for 2 Commonwealth Games. Jamie has been involved with university hockey since 2006, having led programs previously at Sheffield Hallam, Nottingham, Durham, and Birmingham. His aim is to develop people and players whilst giving them the best hockey experience of their lives.

Lorna Mackenzie on a blue hockey pitch holding a hockey stick

Lorna MacKenzie

Assistant Player-coach

Former Loughborough player who has represented England at a junior and senior international level. MacKenzie graduated in July 2023 and has recently been living in Hamburg playing for Flottbek in the Bundesliga. She has since returned to Loughborough as a coach.

Ali McGregor

Keeper Coach

Former Olympian and selected as the best Goalkeeper in the world after 2008 Beijing Olympics. Ali has been coaching at Loughborough for over 10 years, with 3 former Loughborough Goalkeepers coached by Ali having played in the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham 2022.  Ali is also still actively involved in the national set up, coaching the men’s EDP Goalkeepers.

Prospective students

If you are interested in joining the Performance Hockey programme please express your interest via the email below.

Express your interest

Performance Women's Hockey is sponsored by