Firstly let me welcome you all to the 2014-2015 hockey season at Reading Hockey Club. In whatever capacity that you enjoy our sport, from playing, coaching, spectating, managing, umpiring and administrating, I sincerely hope that you have a great time this year and appreciate being part of the Club.

It has been a busy close season with our international players involved in both the World Cup and the Commonwealth Games, and I hope that you enjoyed watching some of the members of our Club playing at the elite level.

We also had the annual Reading Real Ale and Jazz festival in July, and I would like to extend my thanks to both the organising team and the many volunteers who came along to support this fundraising event.

The Hockey section also laid a new water based pitch at Sonning Lane in May and, according to our international pitch expert, we got our timing exactly right as the old one was literally falling apart. We are about to get the lines re-sprayed ahead of the season and I’m looking forward to hearing what you all think about the latest pitch technology. Pleasingly we have also managed to find a home for the old astro turf, and this is being moved there over the next few weeks.

We also welcome a number of new coaches to the club, with Merijn van Willigen coaching the Ladies’1st XI and our own Andy Watts taking over the reins for the Men’s 1st XI. I know that you will all join me in wishing them well for the coming season. For many weekends during the season we are lucky enough to have some of the best Ladies’ and Men’s hockey across the whole country on offer at Sonning Lane. Please do come and watch whenever you can – the first team squads really do appreciate your support.

The Colts section has a full set of coaches ahead of the coming season and we are all looking forward to building upon the success of last year. I’m really impressed at the organisation that has taken place since last April and it’s always good to see the Next Generation on the pitch, representing the Club.

We have started to implement a new web based system, from a technology company called Pitchero, to automate some of the administrative processes within the Club, and you will all be invited to register in the next few weeks.

We have had a few changes in the Hockey Committee since last season, with Chris Davey standing down as Section Chairman to return to his main role as Men’s 1st XI manager. I’d like to record my thanks to Chris for his untiring effort and enthusiasm as Chairman, especially for his work in securing the new water based surface.
Talking of the Hockey Committee, we rely as many Sports Clubs do on volunteers to operate the section, and there are a number of current vacancies. I will be writing to all of the membership to ask for specific help in certain areas, particularly in finance and sponsorship.

In the meantime please do get ready for a successful season, and I look forward to seeing you pitchside.
Best wishes,
Tim