This years winner is without doubt a stalwart of the club.
John Miller has given so much to the club that it is really hard to put simply put into words to describe his unwavering support, enthusiasm, commitment and just being a genuinely nice person!

When you see him at the club, buy him a beer and thank him for everything he has done for the club, we all owe him!

Here is his Hockey CV:

John Miller joined Reading Hockey Club in the early 1960’s and has been a constant supporter of hockey and club across all teams, be it Mens, Ladies, Vets and Colts ever since he joined.
He has also been a Berkshire County President and player for many years.

His welcoming personality has ensured that everyone who comes to watch or play hockey at, and for, the club is made to feel part of the hockey family.

His promotion of hockey being a “family” sport has helped the club see many children grow up playing alongside their parents and subsequently grow into senior club members themselves.

He is never one to shirk away from helping out around the club with the many jobs that need doing, and on many occasion the person who he is helping never knows that it is the Club’s president helping with the car-parking or cutting the hedges around the club!

In the late 70s-80s he had 2 spells as hockey chairman and one as club chairman '84-87.

He was the Chairman of Hockey in 1981 where he was one of the major instigators of starting up the Ladies section of the club.
The Colts section started under his presidency and he is proud of seeing players who started playing at the club with their parents, watching them become the Men’s 1st Team Captain, or playing for the Ladies 1’s.

His knowledge of hockey is vast and he avidly follows all levels of the game, from the U6’s and U8’s tournaments through the many teams and leagues our club plays in and the international players games – he is always the first to ask how everyone got on.

As club chairman, he was an important part of the move from Church Road grass to Sonning Lane in 1986, where the first Astro was laid in 1989, followed very conveniently by the club getting entry into the newly formed National league.

He helped the club move into the newly formed London League of which we have teams represented ever since it started in 1969
After his stay as club chairman he became Chairman of the Real Ale and Jazz Festival which was the main fundraiser for the Hockey club from 1988 to 2014. Every year he could be found helping to set up the site and ensuring that all was in place for the three day festival. He would never shirk from a job, and was often the person who was called when the toilets became blocked!!.

He became president of the Club in 1994, a position he held for 20 years, overseeing lots of changes and a lot of hockey pitch success for both the men and the women.

As well as all this he was a very fine player at the club and was the 1ST Team player and Captain for 20 years, he was also a founder member and Captain of the Berkshire Boars social touring side in the 70’s and 80’s. He has represented the Club at all levels up to the age of 70 and played for Berkshire County for many years.

John’s support of hockey at club, county and international level has been unwavering over the years. He quietly goes about his business and is the last person to shout about his achievements. He is fondly regarded at the club and the wider hockey community. The way he supports club members and activities is understated, but effective in letting people grow as players and club members.

READING HC
- Club President 1996 to 2014
- Trustee of Reading Cricket and Hockey Club
- Club Chairman in the early eighties
- Captain and RHC 1st X1 team member for 20 Years
- represented the Club at all levels up to the age of 70
- Major contribution to junior boys coaching throughout the nineties
- Berkshire and Club Umpire
- A founder member of a committee for the organisation of the Club's major fundraising event, a Real and Jazz Festival, the proceeds of which have funded the Club's water based AstroTurf pitches

BERKSHIRE COUNTY HOCKEY ASSOCIATION
- President of the County
- played County Hockey for many years
- coordinated the appointment of match managers for County representative teams to play against colleges within the County