Mens 1 End of Season Report 2008

Slazenger England Hockey League Men’s Premier Division 2007/08 Winners
Cup Semi-finalists

Captain Rhys Joyce takes us through another successful season for the Men’s 1XI.

EHL Premier Division Final Placings

As Johnny D does things in 10 (and in truth as I just don’t have time to write a whole report) - here’s 10 things about our season:

1) We won the league for the second year in a row and had a 100% record for over half of it. Like Trevor Immelman last w/e, we led ‘wire to wire’!
2) We’re in the semi final of the cup too and on for the double…,
3) But we lost in the last 8 of the EHL to Rotterdam having beaten Cannock in the last 16.
4) Jonty was the first person to score one of the new penalties in the EHL in Oct. Bruvs saved Crefelds…and for once the English beat the Germans on penalties….but whatever you do, don’t mention the war!!
5) Watto scored a cracking team goal at the death v Loughborough at home to keep our winning run going.
6) We stole 3 points away at Cannock - had 5 shots, hit the post once and won 3-0!
7) Our indoor campaign stuttered before we even got started but we finished well to retain our place in the league and just miss out on finals night with the largest winning margin ever in the Indoor premier league against Canterbury…we won 14-1 and I scored the 14th…my only goal of the season…added value everywhere JD!
3 of our team are strong candidates for Olympic selection having all been in the successful Qualifiers team. Catman got a GB cap and Spring the first of what I am sure will be many England caps.
9) Due to unavailability, Mace played on pitch last week in our last premier league match v Havant…eek.
10) We turned up to club ‘do’s’ this year…and even hosted a Race night…thanks to Mole for his efforts there…

Overall, it’s just been a great team effort this year to retain our status as the best team in the land. Without our GB boys, I would have taken 3rd place in the league and a place in Europe next year at the start of the season…but we’ve surpassed even our own expectations. Everyone involved in the squad has worked really hard and it’s been a real team effort without our stars…so much so that it is hard to single anyone out at all. People have dug in, trained well and shown some real heart in some tough games… and I think that team ethic and heart is something that has really characterised our team this year.

Special thanks goes to the Management team - to the club for their support, to Mike for his efforts and expertise and to Chris as manager who has done an amazing job to make everything run smoothly and Jacky for her continued physio support at games.

Rhys Joyce

1st XI Captain