Abingdon Hockey Club

Abingdon Hockey Club seeks a qualified coach to oversee the men’s and ladies’ sections for the forthcoming season. You must be a minimum of level two, with a current first aid and child protection certificate along with a CRB check, as the position will involve working with junior players within the club.

You will be required to work with the three mens and two ladies teams on a rotational basis, with the help of assistant coaches, to raise standards across this friendly and welcoming club.

Training is 8.00 – 9.30pm on a Tuesday night at Tilsley Park in Abingdon. Remuneration is negotiable, in accordance with EH guidelines

As you know the club is always in need of qualified umpires, and we are pleased to announce that men’s club captain Mark Ellis and Chairlady Jen Sugden (me) have just gained their level one qualification!

BUT – the more qualified umps we have the easier it becomes for the club. the next course will be in November ***so if you are interested in getting qualified then let me know***

Email: abingdonhockey@gmail.com

The AGM will take place on Tuesday May 18th at the Boundary House Pub at 7.30pm. I really hope to see lots of you there, remember this is a great chance for you to get involved ad have your say about the club.

Items on the Agenda so far are:

Finances

Membership fees and policies

Junior section

Training / Coaching

Recruitment

Appointments

Here are a list of committee positions, if you would like to run for a committee position you need someone to propose and second you and then to be voted in. You can run for any position you wish even if people are re-standing. Below is a list of positions, who is currently filling them and also who / if anyone is standing for them this year.

I really hope you will be encouraged to run for a position and get involved. the best way to make the club better is to be on the committee!

If you want to know what is involved then please contact me – or keep an eye on the website, we should be putting job descriptions up there soon.

Chairperson: current: Jen Nicholson, (re-standing)

Secretary: Current: Anna Capel-Davies ( standing down)

Treasurer: current: Sarah Wilson (re-standing)

Membership Secretary: Current: Sarah Wilson (standing down)

Welfare Officer: current: Sarah Wilson (re-standing)

Umpire Secretary: Current: Paula Pena (re-standing)

Fixtures Secretaries: Current Ladies: Monika Ermann (re-standing).  Current Men’s: Chris Jones (re-standing)

Social Secretary: current Ladies: Lisa Perrin (re-standing). Current Men’s: VACANT

Men’s Club Captain: current: Mark Ellis (re-standing)

Ladies’ Club Captain: current: Chantel Carpenter (re-standing)

Ladies 1st XI: current: Gemma Whitford (re-standing)

Ladies 2nd XI: current: Angela Kirby (re-standing)

Men’s 1st XI: current: Owen Blackburn (standing down)

Men’s 2nd XI: current: Pete Bowen (standing down)

Men’s 3rd XI: current: MAlcolm West (standing down, Richard Smart will be standing)

Mixed XI: current: Carl Gray (standing down, Aimee Field and Mark Ellis will be standing)

With our junior section plans well underway we are also hoping to create a new position, that of Junior Development Officer, Anna Capel-Davies will be standing for this.

Please get in touch if you want to chat over any positions – as you can see positions in need of filling are: secretary, membership secretary, men’s social sec, mens 1st and 2nd XI captains, but as i said you can stand for any position.

***PLEASE NOTE: that as we are developing a junior section and with increasing numbers of juniors playing for us and at training we are having to CRB certain positions, please be aware that if you are standing for: Chair, welfare officer, Junior development, Captain, or are going to be involved in coaching this WILL require a CRB check***

I really hope to see as many of you there as possible – come along and have your say in how the club is run!

On Monday night the Ladies 1s had their last fixture of the winter season against City of Oxford Ladies 2s.

From the first whistle Abingdon Ladies really took the game to their opposition working well as a team, passing well, making good runs and really putting the City side under pressure. But City, always a strong side, were not going to let Abingdon have it all their way and when they had the play they did their best to trouble the Abingdon defences. But the backs were once again on top form with Sweeper Chantel picking the ball with ease from any forward attempting to get past her.

However, when City managed to get a short corner about 15 minutes into the game they took the opportunity to convert with a well executed routine. But the Abingdon ladies did not let their heads drop and fought back! It was not long before Abingdon had a short corner opportunity of their own – Helen pushed out to Georgia who slipped it to Lisa P. Lisa’s strike rebounded right back at her and she seized her opportunity, lifting the ball over the goalie to make it 1-1.

At half time the scores were still level and when the whistle blew for the start of the second half, Abingdon were desperate for the next goal. The mid-field worked really hard, defending well and pushing forward together. Anna, Georgia and Paula were working over time – getting the ball through to Helen and Aimee up front who were really troubling the city defences and getting lots of chances in the D. Any breaks from City being seen off with ease from defenders Sarah F, Sarah W and Gemma – and the backs too were getting involved in the attacking play, overloading city’s defence. It was not long before another short was won by the girls in blue, which they again took the chance to convert, this time Anna slotting the ball home to make it 2-1.

But City were not going to let us win that easy, and fought back managing to get another goal to level the scores not long after Abingdon had nipped ahead. But that just spurred on the Abingdon ladies even more! Everyone was putting in 100% effort – and it was not long before Abingdon had got the break again, Lisa having intercepted the ball, and made a run forward – the team came to support and after passing it round the defenders, Georgia had a shot which the keeper saved by diving on on the floor, the ball rebounded to Lisa who took aim and fired it home! 3-2.

From then on City lost their formation – desperate to get another break but Abingdon were now on top and piled on the pressure. Many chances narrowly missed – but right at the end, another great tackle from Anna saw Abingdon break again – and once again the team found themselves in the D with the advantage, some well timed passing once again put the keeper off her stride and Paula was there to score the final goal – but as the ball was crossing the line the whistle sounded and the final score was only recorded at 3-2, but we are counting it Paula!!

Awesome result ladies – bring on the summer league!