“They went from just being a sports club to being my chosen family”
BY AMBER ROOS (SHE/HER), LONDON ROYALS HOCKEY CLUB WOMEN’S CLUB CO-CAPTAIN
A few years ago, I decided to move to London. The biggest city I had ever lived in, not really knowing anyone there. Feeling inspired to pick up team sport again after watching a documentary about the Chicago Bulls’ golden years, one evening I went on Google and searched for queer hockey teams in London. The first thing that came up was the London Royals Hockey Club. Little did I know how much of an impact joining this hockey club was going to have on my life in London.
The club is a great way to stay fit and to keep up with friends and social interaction. No need to try and schedule a coffee catch-up with a friend three months in advance, I know I’ll just see them at training or a match soon. My time playing hockey with the Royals started becoming little pockets of joy in my week. Something to look forward to because I got to run around and see my friends. Now, I cannot imagine my life in London without this hockey club. The way the Royals are able to build community truly is incredible and unmatched. There are plenty of socials where you get to know everyone off the pitch. And we go on both domestic and international tours every year. Some of my favourite moments at the club are when we go on tour. There is something about it, you get to explore new places and find out a little more about your fellow teammates. Like who thinks it is reasonable to arrive at the airport two hours before and who wants to miss their flight. We also win medals too – we just got back from Vienna where one of our women’s teams won Bronze in the EuroGames!
When I joined the Royals, I was unaware of how much of an impact this group of people would have on my life. They went from just being a sports club to being my chosen family. For the first time in my life, I’ve felt truly accepted and part of a wonderfully queer group of amazing people.
Our club is open to everyone, even if you’ve never held a stick before. We are also explicitly trans and non-binary inclusive and have worked hard to ensure the club is a space where everyone feels welcome. We’ve also held Trans Sports Days the past two years, partnering with other clubs to increase trans people’s access to sport.
Looking ahead, we’ve got two Women’s teams playing in the London league from September and we’re keen to continue growing, especially on our women’s side of the club. Therefore we’re hosting a Women’s Recruitment Day on 17 August and Club Day on 8 September. Both of these sessions take place from 12-2 pm at John Orwell Sports Centre in Wapping! Please do come along and experience this amazing queer community for yourself.
For more information about London Royals Hockey Club, check out our website here.
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