Hockey Writers’ Club (HWC) annual awards

Scotland’s Struan Walker and England’s Biba Mills have been voted men’s and women’s senior players of the year in the prestigious Hockey Writers’ Club (HWC) annual awards.

East Grinstead’s Mills, 17, becomes the first player to win either a HWC junior or youth award, for U16 or U18 players, followed by a senior award back-to-back.

Meanwhile Walker, 23, becomes the second Scottish player to win the senior player’s award in succession following the HWC’s 42nd presentation.

Rising English star Mills entered the record books after being named the HWC women’s player of the year for 2025/26.

Following the vote by HWC members, Mills beat Amy Costello and Maddie Axford.

Sophie Bray, who also played for East Grinstead, was the last player to win a junior award, in 2007, and then senior women’s award, in 2019. 

Mills, a former Brighton College student who will be playing in the Netherlands next season, is also the first player to win the HWC senior player’s award having yet to receive a full international cap.

Mills has already made history in her rising career when, in 2024, she became the youngest-ever goalscorer in the Euro Hockey League at age 15 when playing for East Grinstead in European hockey’s club showpiece.

In the 2024/25 season, she finished top scorer in the women’s Premier Division with 20 goals and top scorer in the indoor Super 6s.

At the indoor EuroHockey Club Trophy she also finished top of the goalscoring table before doing the same with England outdoors U18 team at the European Championships in July 2025.

In the last three years she has notched more than 100 indoor and outdoor Premier Division goals indoors and outdoors.

Last year, Lee Morton became the first Scottish player since Alan Forsyth in 2018 to win the senior men’s award.

And following the vote by HWC members, compatriot Walker beat James Mazarelo and Nick Bandurak.

“It's very nice to have the recognition of playing well and I am very appreciative of the award,” said Walker, who plays for Dutch club side Oranje-Rood

“But really it's about a tight knit hockey team, as well as training with GB. It’s always been about being together and to keep getting better and becoming a closer team.

Four new rising talents of the game were also announced as winners of the annual Hockey Writers’ Club youth and junior awards for 2025.

U16 Girls: Ciara Beech
U16 Boys Alistair Broadwith
U18 Girls: Beth Gardens
U18 Boys: Jack Stamp

Scottish journalist Nigel Duncan was also presented with the Hockey Writers’ Club’s Graham Wilson Award for Services to Media, in memory of the late Daily Express journalist.

The Digital and Social Media Award went to Derwent Men’s Instagram account.

The committee voted the account ahead of Phil Roper’s Lets Stick Together for its amusing and relatable club content, as well as enriching the digital footprint of the UK hockey community on social media.

The HWC’s photographer of the year award goes to Helen Ritchie, a long-standing member of Reading HC and her excellent portrayals of the club.