As the Golden Summer of Rio 2016 comes to an end, we again look inward and on to what 2016/17 has in store for us all at Wotton under Edge Hockey Club. I’d like to extend a warm welcome to our many new members both seniors & juniors.

All of our senior XIs have already been in action and our junior training sessions are now fully-subscribed, with a waiting list system now in place. Soon, it will be the turn of our Youth teams (Boys Badgers and Girls Vixens) to begin their campaigns. Again we move into exciting unchartered territory as we add a Men’s 5th XI and Ladies 3rd XI to our roster of league teams this season.

Thank you to all of our volunteers, and the committee, for all of their help in getting the season off to a flying start. We welcome supporters to our home games at New Road. You can view a full list of fixtures on the website by clicking on ‘information’, then ‘documents’, then ‘general’ – this will be updated periodically, and with more junior fixtures as they are confirmed (including our very successful home junior tournaments).

With the expanding number of teams, and in an effort to ensure as many ‘home’ games are played at the Field of Dreams as possible, we have agreed new start times with Sport Wotton for Saturdays in 2016/17. These are 1000, 1130, 1330, 1500 & 1630; so do check carefully the comms from your captains/managers. For this reason some Badgers games and their venues are yet to be confirmed.

Though we continue to look for grants and sponsorships to offset major capital outlays, the committee did recently agree in principle to proceed with a project to provide storage/shelter adjacent to the pitch which will, amongst other things, be used to improve the welcome (and profitable!) refreshments we offer at junior tournaments and high profile matches. I’ll keep members updated on this and how they can help.

While speaking of additional help, we do operate several steering groups which report into the main committee: a Fundraising group and another group for socials and events. While I’ll be asking squads/sections to nominate representatives to these groups if anybody has a particular interest or skillset here then do make yourselves known.

Members may also be interested to note that we are extending our participation in Sunday National KO competitions, following the success of the Mens 1s cup run last year (losing the quarter finals to eventual runners up, Blackheath HC). As well as M1 re-entering the Mens Trophy, we have entered a Ladies team into the Investec Vase for the first time; and our u18 Boys have been entered into their National Cup. So far the Men have been drawn at home against City of Bath HC on Sun 16 Oct in Rd 1, while the ladies face a Devon road trip to Dart HC for their first round match on Sun 30 Oct. More to follow on how wider membership can get involved and show their support.

Finally, there are many ways you can stay in touch with what is going on at the club. In addition to the website, we have a Twitter account and a public Facebook page (please like and share this page!) both under the tag @wottonhockey, so you can also stay in touch with us via social media.
Members can request access to a closed facebook group ‘WuE HC – the place dreams are made!’ for added ‘banter’!

The club website, via the Pitchero platform, will remain the club’s premier means of communication, (as well as taking payments and other admin tools) so do check regularly and ensure you have set your profile to receive emails and messages.

Any questions on this, or any of the below, please contact me or a member of the committee.

Here’s to another successful and enjoyable season!

Stuart Emms
Chairman, Wotton under Edge HC

RESTRICTED PARKING AT KLB - THURS 22 SEPT
Following last week’s school open evening, there is a careers fair on at KLB this Thursday so once again there will be no hockey/rugby parking in the Sports Hall car park. Therefore hockey club parents/players are directed to park on the New Road/Skate Park side, accessible via the gate which will be open on this occasion, and walk to the pitch.

PAYMENTS
Don’t forget if you haven’t (re) signed up as a member yet, and paid online – you need to do so NOW. (all website glitches should now be fixed). If you click on the ‘news’ section of the website there are all the details you need. Remember that for players in senior XIs if you are not fully paid up by 30 September then you will NOT be eligible for selection after that date.

We fully support inclusivity in sport, so in cases of genuine financial hardship we are happy to discuss alternative arrangements in confidence. Please contact Treasurer Stu Jones.

UMPIRES
With the expansion of the club, some of our resources are pretty stretched, not least in umpiring. From my own experience, umpiring is a rewarding one that can boost your greater understanding of the game, as well as putting something back into the club - we will always need more umpires as the club expands. We are looking to set up our own training course locally but we will need this to be populated by senior players to ensure we can cover all games; we would also welcome attendance from parents on this course – more details to follow…

All members should also note that regs relating to red cards have been recently updated. The main change is to bring consistency across the game to the penalties imposed when a Red Card is shown – the changes are already in effect so both umpires and players should familiarise themselves with the new rules. http://www.hgwhua.co.uk/docs/updated_red_card_regs_release.pdf

WOTTON COMMUNITY SPORTS FOUNDATION (WCSF) update
Members will recall that the hockey club were founder members of WCSF back in the late 1990s (which in turn is now part of the ‘Sport Wotton’ joint venture with KLB school which runs the facilities on site). We have been well served with representatives on WCSFs committee in recent years, latterly in the form of club co-founder Willie Cruickshank. WCSF are looking for more representatives to join their committee; in addition to a new Chairman when current incumbent Barnaby Beere steps down later this year. Perhaps this is of interest to you as a parent or local resident? If so do let us know.
The aim would be for the club to continue to be well represented at WCSF as well as helping them/us achieve further phases of site development - including the potential for new events on site next Summer.

While we are on the subject, can all members help us to keep the site tidy by ensuring that drinks bottles are not left in dugouts or around the pitches and paths.

CLUB KIT
A reminder that a raft of club kit, including playing shirts, training shirts, socks and hoodies in a range of sizes are all available from our clothing supplier: Goose and Gander on Market St in Wotton under Edge. http://gooseandganderltd.com/collections/wotton-under-edge-hockey

The committee is current looking into extending the range of club clothing/merchandise on offer; but if any members have ideas then please let a committee member know.

MATCH DAY PITCH ACCESS, CHANGEOVERS & FOOTWEAR
On match days: ONLY players and officials (e.g. umpires/coaches/managers) involved in the current match should have ANY need to enter the playing area on the new pitch. Parents, children and other spectators should remain behind the waist high fence for their own safety, particularly during senior matches. Dugouts are provided only for substitutes and officials. Of course, we are happy that smaller children and others play on the outfield at half time, but they should return to behind the spectator fence once the game re-commences. We lobbied hard to keep the spectator fence in the specification of the new pitch for these very reasons (primarily safety) so please can I ask members and supporters to respect this. Members should note that compliance with some of the above is written into the rules for some EH Competitions anyway so it makes sense to get in to good disciplines. Umpires also like a ‘clear path’ down the touchline not encroached upon by spectators or kit: I know this is a problem at other grounds but we have a spectator fence to mitigate: lets use it...

Please can we all take care during training night changeover periods to ensure the safety of members. Players should not enter the playing area until their allotted session time has started. Similarly can players on the outgoing session clear the area of themselves and their kit to behind the spectator fence as soon as possible so that the incoming session can start promptly.

Finally, we should take care to ensure that shoes worn on the playing area are appropriate for the surface and are free of mud or dirt – there is a brush next to the gate for this purpose. No moulded studs or blades of ANY kind should be worn on the astro so if you see this by other clubs/sports, please report it to reception staff in the sports centre

DISCIPLINE
Before the 2016/17 season gets into full swing, I’d like to again remind you of the club’s disciplinary policy (adherence to which is a condition of membership, via the sign up process) and with particular reference to respect for officials.

In case I’m accused of starting the season on a negative footing, I should stress that this is not in response to any particular incident or is it perceived that the club has a particular problem with discipline. Indeed, the introduction of such a policy was to ensure that we maintained our good record in this area. I’m also mindful of the good feedback we had from the appointed umpires from HGWHUA regarding the conduct of our Mens 1st XI in their games last 3 years which is pleasing.

Nevertheless, we need to acknowledge that lack of respect for officials is a growing problem in sport generally and one which we all have responsibility to deal with. This doesn’t mean it has to be all ‘jolly hockeysticks’ – good umpires understand that players want to play hard; and that’s fine – I’ve been known to frequent the sin bin on occasions myself; but there are lines that shouldn’t be crossed. Contrast the attitude toward officials in rugby/cricket compared to that in football. Hockey needs to continue to mirror the former and not allow bad habits from the latter to creep into our sport.

Our club has a hard earned, outstanding reputation in local hockey circles – as well as in the community as a whole. Anything, on or off the pitch, that puts that at risk will be dealt with appropriately by the committee.

CLUB OFFICERS (a reminder of who’s who!)

Chairman – Stuart Emms (stuartemms@hotmail.com)
Secretary - Myra Patterson (myrahockey@gmail.com)
Treasurer – Stuart Jones (sjtreasurer@outlook.com)

Mens Club Captain – James Cruickshank
Ladies Club Captain – Corinna Whitear

Junior co-ordinator – Cathy York
Junior Secretary – Nicola Palmer
Badgers/Vixens Secretary – Jane Weston

Mens Fixture Secretary – James Bull
Ladies Fixture Secretary – Ann George
Umpires co-ordinator – Steve Dexter
WCSF Liaison – Willie Cruickshank