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Newsletter 2007/08
Since 2003/04 the club has produced weekly match reports. From the start of the 2005/06 season this became a weekly newsletter, distributed during the season, containing match reports from each of the games played that weekend as well as other key information and a selection of adverts and offers.
Thurs 10-Apr-08Issue 24
“And now, the end is here…” What a season it’s been – plenty to shout about, plenty to work on for next season. Big challenges lie ahead – once promoted, you’ve got to try to stay there; once demoted, you’ve got to try to bounce back; and for the rest, some bid to move from the mid-table comfort zone to the upper echelons of the division. But that’s all for September (or mid-June if pre-season for the top teams continues its premiership style ever-earlier start date..!) A rest though after a hard season is very much in order, and hopefully the summer will play nicely, cease this ‘snow in April’ madness and let us enjoy such sunshine this year.
Final efforts on the pitch left the women’s 2s tantalisingly close to promotion, but sadly it was a result elsewhere in London which determined their fate. Another year in Division 2, but a great season by them (which Lucy P and I take full credit for by bowing out in September!). The women’s 6s finished with an encouraging win as foreseen in tealeaves hours earlier by Kate, their captain cum mystic soothsayer. It wasn’t to be a fairytale ending for a tense and exciting game for women’s 5s and the women’s 3s and 4s also lost but certainly the women’s 4s won the party in the evening with by far the most raucous table in the evening.
The End of Season dinner went off with a bang as described by Lucy below. Massive thanks to Lucy, Emma and Chris for organising such a fantastic club evening. A fitting tribute was made to Jo Malkin, aka Pipes, who is leaving us this year and has contributed immeasurably over the last few years with tireless dedication to the women’s side, the committee and the juniors. And we surpassed ourselves after dinner with dancing and general merriment – a classic THD evening, ending for the stalwart few where else but Mark’s spiritual home, the Swan.
A plea for help on some lost property for the night – Vicky Wright asks: could the person who very kindly came to Chinawhite to drop off a jacket please check to see if a wallet was left in the jacket exchanged. There may have been a wallet with a bank card in it. Send any information to info@thehockeyclub.co.uk
Also, very importantly, please see below for vacancies and opportunities to help on the Club committee. We would welcome anybody who can spare a little bit of time to get in touch and find out more – the club can’t function without a whole voluntary backroom team. It’s a great chance to shape where the club is going at this exciting time.
Finally, and yes this is a preamble of Homerian proportions, but these will be the last words, for this season and from me as I will be handing over the illustrious Tribune quill pen and ink pot to Ram from the Tornados who will entertain and regale you far more than I can aspire to. Thanks to all the captains and report writers who have put up with my pestering and have brought the games to life in words every week. And to Mark for publishing and doing all the web stuff that the rest of us can’t do. Good luck to everyone next season and may the (somewhat barmy) red and green army go from strength to strength. Cheers.
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Reports by: Lucy Snell, Jo Walker, Mo O’Brien, Alanna Mackintosh, Kate StrakerEnd of Season Dinner
The morning of the day of the End of Season Dinner saw me attached to my phone, running around like a headless chicken and earning myself a parking ticket before I turned up to support part way through the 2’s game., And so it was with a slightly worried expression that I looked around the DC pitch. Most people would be forgiven for thinking that the End of Season Dinner commenced in the evening although that was not the case for quite a few of the Men’s 1’s and 2’s who were due to attend. Although I am sure that the Women’s 2s and 3s teams appreciated their support, there the Lads stood, on the side of the pitch kitted up not in the usual attire for watching a hockey match, but in formal evening attire with accompanying beverages.
At this point most people would also be forgiven for thinking that there was not a chance in hell that the same besuited people would be fit and able by the time the Dinner itself started some 8 or 9 hours later but I have to confess myself to be pleasantly surprised/shocked/amazed that most of them were in one piece and relatively sober on arrival at Bankside?! I have been wondering if they took the afternoon off to recuperate... only joking J
Following a bit more running around for more than just me I suspect, we started to arrive at the venue... The trickle of people arriving turned in to a flood with the beauties definitely outnumbering the beasts! The meal seemed to go off without any major hitches and then it was down to the speeches – thanks to Mark Jones and to Marilyn for her lovely speech about our departing Women’s Club Captain and Women’s 1s Keeper, Jo Malkin. I am sure that we would all like to echo the thanks and good wishes of Saturday night.
Next we moved on to the Raffle, so thanks to Lucy P for compering and again thanks to all those who brought or donated gifts. I have to say that I am keen to know the outcome of the Alexander/Casement date...
The last ‘formal’ item of the night was the Auction – thanks to Tim Sylvester for talking the talk. Thanks should also go to Alex Crawford for her bid on the Kooks tickets and to John Nurse for his very generous bid on the personal shopper experience with Can i? of Clapham or the Cock & Magpie of Bermondsey worth £1,500. Many thanks to Vicky Wright and the Women’s 6s, and Toby Rolph and the Tornados who donated those items.
Thanks must also go to the venue, their staff, and all those who came out to support the club and celebrate the end of another season.
To give a synopsis of the less formal part of the evening - there was lots of drinking (we ran them out of vodka and gin), dancing (we quite literally caused injuries on the dance floor although we didn’t manage murder), banter (everyone seemed to be on good form) and a few cheeky snogs were definitely spotted not to mention the odd attempted lunge-for-a-snog. With the later closing of the venue most of us were happy to trundle home at about 1.30am, although I understand that there were a crazy few who descended on the Swan and I heard that at least one came home with a shower cap. I’m not really sure what that says about the evening but it appeared that most people had a good time and all I can say is that it is a good job they were doing a refurb the next day!!! (LS)
Men’s Section - No games
Women’s 1s - No game
Women’s 2s vs. Richmond 2s: Won 4 -3
It was a HUGE game for TH&D Women’s 2s on Saturday, with us needing to secure a win to put us in the running for promotion. We didn’t get off to the greatest of starts, but eventually we settled and Emma put a great goal past the goalie, at a near impossible angle about 20 minutes in. EJ kept winning us penalty corner after penalty corner and Lucy slotted a textbook goal in from one of them, with a one-two passing move between her and Kato, beautiful to watch! Unfortunately Richmond scored two equalisers, so went into half-time at 2-2.
After a good team talk from Gemma, we went out fired up and soon scored a third goal, a team effort right from the back with Lucy getting the final touch on the ball (sorry Biba, the metre from the backline to the backboard doesn’t count!). Then EJ scored us a fourth and it looked like we had victory in our sights. However, we wanted to give the spectators a bit more excitement so decided to let Richmond score one more goal to make it really go down to the wire! Luckily we held on in the last 10 minutes to win 4-3. Hils had an awesome match – consistently making great tackles and accurate passes - so very deservedly won Man of the Match.
Unfortunately, the other results in our division didn’t go our way so we narrowly missed out on promotion. Better luck next year hopefully! A huge thank-you to the umpires Riley and Trem and to the awesome turnout of spectators, particularly the Men’s 1s who dressed up especially for the occasion ;) (JW)
Team: Dulcie, Lucy, Hils, Chloe, Biba, Kato, Jo Walker, Sarah Beddoes, Emma, EJ and Jo Walford. (And poor old Traffs ill on the sideline) Scorers: Emma, Lucy (2), EJ Umpires: Simon Riley, Trem MOTM: Hils
Women’s 3s vs. University of London 1s: Lost 2-0
So here it is. My last report for the season and for the club as I’m heading off to the Emerald Isle for good. We were expecting to go out with a bang but unfortunately it was more of a whimper. Our performance was lacklustre to say the least. They won most of the 50/50 balls and effectively broke down our defence. Not even the lovely but bizarre support from some of the guys already in tuxes with champagne in tow could prevent us from losing 2-0. Anyway, moving swiftly onwards, what is really important is what happened that evening…
Firstly the award for the earliest inebriation goes to Jo Clarke who managed to arrive in a state that most people left in and was somewhat bizarrely fascinated by women’s breasts.
The most amusing drunk award goes to the ‘Stepford Wife-like’ state that Emma ‘wedding crasher’ Parker got herself into. At some stage she thought it would be a good idea to pick me up and fall over. I’m still picking glass out of my back.
That however wasn’t nearly as amusing as me and Lou trying to teach Parker how to walk down a flight of stairs like a lady, and not like a gunslinger. (It’s got to be seen to be believed). Finally the most persistent on the dance floor award has got to go to Georgie. I don’t even think she took a toilet break. On that note to save further blushes including my own, I shall sign off for the last time. I would like to say that it has been an absolute pleasure to play for THE best club around and will miss everyone terribly. Good luck to you all and I hope to see you soon. (M O'B)
P.S Thanks for the sweatshirt!!
Team: Rachael Biggs, Jo Clarke, Lou Curry, Kat Dwyer, Ellie Gardner,Erica Goldsmith, Georgie Hills, Jena Kitley, Beth Little, Mo O'Brien, Emma Parker, Helen Shackleton, George Sykes MOTM: Rachael Biggs and Georgie Hills Umpire: Mark Annear
Women's 4s vs. Byfleet Ramblers: Lost 0-1
(again I am going to have to apologise if this recollection varies from that of my team mates or any of the people who watched . . I haven’t thought about it since I left the pitch)
And so the day of the end of season dinner dawned with 5 ladies matches still to go, with the ladies 4’s being slotted for a 2.00pm push back... the latest time slot... which needless to say cause all sorts of worries with regard to the evenings festivities for the fair ladies of the fours?!
It was with some trepidation that we arrived at dulwich college pitch... there appeared to be an unusally large number of males in attendance at the side of the pitch and most appeared firmly attached to one form of alcoholic beverage or another... thankfully by the time that we returned from our warm up run they had disappeared... but whilst we had all been arriving there had been a a few sounds of congratulations made... for what? you may well wonder... well a certain Ms Anna Stuttard has done her lovely Dunc’s the honour of agreeing to marry him! CONGRATS! (oh and happy birthday for last week too)
And off the game went and the first half was a relatively solid (I think)... we made the most chances but were unable to capitalise on them and fortunately the defence held firm except for one brief moment and then the oppo managed to hit the post!
Half time saw a nil all scoreline.
In to the second half we went, and from what little I remember it was very similar to the first half only they scored in the last ten minutes...
After that there was a presentation of a thank you gift to our long suffering umpire, Steve and then it was off to get dolled up for most of us! (LS)
Scorer: none MOTM: ? sorry but I have no idea! Team: Olivia, Anna S, Spanna, Rona, Lindsey, Lucy, Claire, Ash, Emma, Charlie, Michelle, Katie, Kath & Julia Cheerleading squad: Lynne, Gem, Shaz, Chloe and MJ.
Women's 5s vs. UCL Academicals: Lost 4-5
Once upon a Saturday morning, a group of optimistic young princesses from the 5 th Kingdom of THD arrived at James Alleyn’s Girl’s School polished up with a layer of tan and an air of excitement on their faces. Some say it was because they were up against their toughest opponents, others say it was in anticipation of the end of season dinner.
Innocuously, they proceeded onto the pitch for a gentle but thorough warm-up; and in the blink of an eye – disastrous injury! The wicked witch had cast her spell and left Sally (the one that shall stoppeth the balls) unable to walk.
From a kingdom far away, a mysterious dark knight gave hope to the young princesses by flying in on a fiery dragon and donning the armour of doom just as the battle siren announced the first charge.
The crusade commenced and was steady until the next disaster for the little girls. Their dreams were thwarted with an expeditious ball which landed beyond their dark knight and in the netting. Quicker than sly foxes, the young girls reacted by having the one from the furthest north fire the ball past the ill-armoured apprentices’ ball stopper to even the score.
The young royals then sprinkled their fairy dust on the netting of the resistance and set the high scoring one, to face their net enforcer. The princesses skipped in delight as their Southern friend rallied them to a 2 point advantage over the opposition, before having it cruelly taken away from them in the retaliation; which left them trailing behind 4 points to 3. The Northern one brought it back to equal the duel which was rapidly concluding.
Alas! In the dying minutes of the epic battle, a quick draw in the shortest corner of all meant that the young princesses had been defeated, by one lowly point.
The sobering moments drove the young princesses to drink and they found themselves immersed in a world of alcoholic beverages for many hours to come…
The End. (AM)
Team: Princess Blackie, Princess Rach, Princess Furlong, Princes Charlie, Princess Sioned, Princess Leckie, Princess Alanna, Princess Sally, Princess Hayley, Princess Del, Princess Andrea, Princess Nicole, Princess Martina, the Dark Knight. Umpire: Sir Richard & Sir Mark Jones Scorers: Alanna MacIntosh (2), Adel Van Eden (2)
Next match: Saturday 12th April 2008, Friendly vs. Hampstead & Westminster, Away 1500.
Women’s 6s vs. Spencer 5s: Won 2-1
So I rocked up for our last game of the season, still a little jet-lagged and not entirely sure what time zone I was in, and wishing I could still be in bed. So we go for a warm-up run and I said to Katie, "I had a dream...."
We played Spencer in our last match before Christmas. They beat us 6-1. They had only lost two matches coming into this game. The omens were not good. We thought, well b*gger it, it's the last game of the season, we're going to be drinking our own bodyweight in calories tonight, let's run our arses off. And it worked....
We marked them so tightly in the first half they barely had a shot on goal. We relaxed a little with 2 minutes to go, and promptly gave away a short corner which they scored from. The only problem with our tactic was we'd been so busy marking we'd barely had a sniff at their goal. Lexi made a guest appearance at the half time team talk with her classic "now, what we really need is a goal" line, Katie and Clare formulated a master plan to mark their centre forward totally out of the game, which somehow freed up a load of space for the rest of us. Their defence suddenly had to remember how to play (hard when your oppo rarely make it into the D), failed, gave away a short corner which Sinead converted with a textbook straight shot. We screamed. Then 10 minutes later they did it again, Claire converting the rebound straight between the goalie's knees. We screamed again. The next 10 minutes were the longest of my life. The whistle blew. We screamed some more. It was awesome.
And my dream? I said to Katie, "don't laugh, but I dreamt last night we won this 2-1". Honestly. (KS)
Team: Kate Straker, Katie Stone, Charlotte Ryan, Sinead Whelan, Jess Beach, Shona Chambers, Clare Montagu, Helen Loftus, Mags Aylward, Andrea Beattie, Gigi Ho, Bridget Easton, Vicky Wright, Claire Dees Scorers: Sinead, Claire Umpire: Ian Wright
Next Match: Some time in the future. We're still basking in mid-table glory at the moment.
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For more information on who to contact to take part in one of the mixed teams tours please check the Dragons page. For any of the other teams please check with the respective captains to enquire about their plans for touring.
The tours planned for 2008 are as follows:
Date |
Event |
Team |
Notes |
16 Apr |
Spencer Club Day |
Dragons 7s |
@ Spencer HC |
24/25 May |
Battersea Festival* |
Invitational Men Invitational Women |
@ Battersea Park |
18/20 Jul |
LadyBoys Tour |
Dragons |
@ Guildford HC |
08/10 Aug |
Riverside Mixed 7s |
Dragons 7s |
@ Purley Walcountians HC |
22/25 Aug |
Saints & Sinners Tour |
DragNets** |
@ East Grinstead HC |
* Battersea Festival is invitational only. The Men's team (Tomahawks) is run by Mark Jones & the Women's team (Hockey Dolls) is run by Kate Straker.
** Anglia Hornets HC and Tulse Hill & Dulwich Dragons combined. Also run by Mark Jones.
Now the 2007/08 Season has come to a close the various committee members & Captain's will be working hard behind the scenes to set up things for the next season and finalise the yearly accounts. Please come along to the:
Annual General Meeting September 2008
see www.thehockeyclub.co.uk/social/events.shtml for more details ...
