GUILDFORD HOCKEY CLUB WELCOME TO THE 2018/19 SEASON 3 2 INSIDE 2018/19 2018/19 President's Welcome 04_ Ladies' 1st XI 06_ Men's 1st XI 10_ GUILDFORD HOCKEY CLUB GUILDFORD HOCKEY CLUB Good Luck to our Teams 14_ Welcome to the Junior Section 16_ A Great Place to Play - Social Report 18_ Meet our Overseas Players 19_ Thank you GHC Volunteers! 20_ Schools Outreach 22_ GHC Coach Education 23_ Hockey for Heroes 24_ Pitching In - Thank you, Partners 26_ GHC Partner Advertisements 28_ Meet your GHC Board 39_ Thank you to all members of the club who have contributed ideas, photos and articles, in particular to James Relph; and to Melinda Rock for editorial support. The brochure was designed and produced for Guildford Hockey Club by Cathy Sanderson [email protected] 07891 698230. So with all this activity it supporters cheering on from will keep GHC moving 5 4 would be surprising if there the sidelines. We need you forward and continuing weren’t a few places where to cheer, but we also need to be a first class hockey our resources are stretched more umpires and help with club. If you need any to capacity. We have many the club management and more encouragement to volunteers at every stage, fundraising, organising social jump in and join us, take 2018/19 and we value events, all the things that a look at the faces of 2018/19 faced their challenge against the every one, some of our wonderful from Come helpers and volunteers A SEASON OF might of the Dutch team. Again it was all about the shuttles, and the the ball and join in the centre spread. Netherlands headed into the final. counters SURPRISES Only in hockey would teams play a on a Friday us!! So that’s the surprise I semi final one day and the final the night, the would like to have this Welcome to the new season from next! We all know what happened on GK equipment season – go on, send GUILDFORD HOCKEY CLUB Guildford Hockey Club President, Sunday, but I suspect the Irish went managers, the bar and that email offering your GUILDFORD HOCKEY CLUB Maggs Kyte home just as happy as the Dutch. kitchen staff to the army of expertise to make our coaches. Our rapid growth club even better. ockey can be full of surprises. So what surprises can I see round the over the last five years has been fantastic - but HBack in March the Guildford HC corner at GHC this year? The Ladies’ Maggs Board received an invitation to send teams have started the season with we need a little more help two delegates to the England Hockey a blaze of wins – but that doesn’t from those of you reading Email Maggs at: [email protected] Big Clubs Meeting. So, on 4th August surprise me. The ladies have worked this, who currently are WaterBottlePromoXmas brochure.pdf 1 02/11/2018 12:10 I duly set off for London – only the all summer getting fit, finding new surprise was that instead of watching players who want to join us, preparing the England Women play in the for the season with practice games and World Cup semi-final as I had hoped training sessions. The surprise would For all your kit orders all those months before – I had the be if they weren’t rewarded for their and enquiries, visit the absolute pleasure of watching Ireland effort. Likewise the Men’s teams are online kit shop GHC Water Bottles play Spain and win! organised for the season, and already the results look good. The Friday The green army had mushroomed in night Junior sessions are always size and a huge crowd waited to greet amazing – so many happy kids, so the players after the game – cheering many dedicated coaches & managers, long and loud. Meanwhile Australia so many supporting parents. Looking for a fantastic stocking filler? Get yours now! Only £5 Ireland take on Spain in front of from the bar a capacity crowd at Lee Valley - a win on shuttles In association with GHC partner takes them into the World Cup final www.guildfordhc.com/kit_shop The Perfect Christmas Gift! SQUAD PROFILES_ From a player’s point of in the 1XI. There is so much 7 6 view, it was fantastic to see potential throughout the club, everything come together and we are keen to provide after Christmas when we an opportunity for everyone went on a run of 11 victories to benefit from the success of in a row, culminating in a 2-1 the 1XI. 2018/19 away win at our promotion Libby Leadbeater 2018/19 rivals Wanderers, when it Ladies’ 1st Team Captain snowed from start to finish and we had to withstand sustained pressure on s a new our goal. One of the most Acoach impressive statistics from at the Club, the season was our goals last season GUILDFORD HOCKEY CLUB conceded tally of 18 in 22 gave me GUILDFORD HOCKEY CLUB games, a total rivalled only by everything Horsham in Division 1, who I had hoped secured promotion to the for …. and more! Having National League. been thrown a curve ball by Manager and Captain As we look ahead to the that Monday training is coming season in South only likely once a month, Division 2, the players are training twice a week ALL excited about taking our season for most of the squad success from last year on proved invaluable. Not LADIES’ and continuing to improve only did it help the players against tougher opposition. to improve, it also showed We are enjoying training the level of desire within 1ST XI hat a difference a year with the 2XI on Wednesday the squad to achieve their makes! When I sat nights, and having a regular goals. Three new players Captain Libby Leadbeater & Coach W down to write this at the start Monday night session for covered the losses from Seamus (Shay) O’Connell introduce of last season, I really had players who aspire to play the previous season, and us to the Ladies’ 1s squad. no idea what the next few months would hold. After so much change over the previous 3 years, and a brush with relegation at the start of my first season at Guildford, it felt like the start of a new era; but with a new Coach, a new formation, and a very young squad, anything might happen. This is what did happen: | 1st | Guildford Ladies’ 1s | P 22 | W 17 | D 2 | L 3 | F 68 | A 18 | +/- 50 | Pts 53 Guildford Hockey Club A5 vertical CRS.pdf 1 02/11/2018 23:02 9 8 2018/19 2018/19 GUILDFORD HOCKEY CLUB GUILDFORD HOCKEY CLUB with a lot of juniors coming and quality youngsters through the depth of squad to balance the group. An was impressive. Ultimately, we impressive preseason has needed this strength in depth led to a strong start to the during the season, as we lost two new campaign, but we all players, and another picked up know how hard this season a long-term injury. Winning the will be. The training squad league was a fantastic and well- has had to be extended deserved end to the season for due to the emergence of so such a committed squad. many promising juniors and without doubt the future How do we follow last season? is very exciting. Can we As two more players take a go up again? If not, then it break from hockey to start a certainly won’t be for the family it’s been great to welcome lack of effort from the squad! a few new faces to the squad and we now have a great mix Seamus O’Connell of National League experience Ladies’ 1st Team Coach L1s in action versus Havant in an early season league fixture SQUAD PROFILES_ 11 10 MEn’S 2018/19 2018/19 1ST XI Coach of Guildford’s Men’s 1s squad, Gary Boucher, and Captain Craig Mullon introduce us to the season. GUILDFORD HOCKEY CLUB GUILDFORD HOCKEY CLUB issing the end of our pre-season Mout training and selection narrowly on programme we had a total promotion of 11 new players join the as we did Men’s first team squad which last season has provided much-needed is never competition for places as well easy. However, as the season as strength in depth. Not only came to a close we were able has this resulted in a much to recognise that the team more robust first team, but at that time wasn’t ready the benefits can also be seen number of first team regulars he Men’s that the gap has narrowed to move up, and that steps in the other teams in the from last season a year older Tsection dramatically between our were needed to strengthen Men’s section. and stronger. Discussions of the club top teams, and players are our ranks. A busy summer with the Director of Junior has seen happier and more equipped of recruitment ensued that As a coach, it’s pleasing to Coaching, Dan Fox, also some drastic to step up when needed. I would rival that of Fulham see that the approach we are identified some new Juniors changes over honestly feel that they slot Football Club (clearly with taking, and the way we want ready for the challenge of the past five into the 1st X1 as if they have less money involved…) By to play, is attracting players adult hockey and inclusion or six seasons, with lows and been in the team week in and to the club after a number in the squad.