Club day on September 13

The season will kick off with a club day on Saturday, September 13 when the following matches will take place.

OCHC Under 25 v OCHC Over 25
3rd XI v 4th XI
A mixed six-a-side tournament with the aim of having a player from each team in each six-a-side teams but maybe seven-a-side with two ladies in each team - to be selected on the day.

In addition, there will be a barbeque and the bar will be open throughout. As if that wasn’t enough, the AGM of the club will be held at 1.45pm.

Full details will follow on email.

Knapp steps up as club captain

The AGM was held at TD on Wednesday, March 28 and a number of changes were made for the forthcoming season.

At the top, Christian Davies, under the pressure of impending fatherhood, has stepped down as club captain. I know everyone would like to thank CD for all his hard work, and he has taken the role so seriously that on occasion he has been spotted sober at TD on a Saturday. He wanted to hand over to a fitter and younger(looking) person, so David Knapp will take on the challenge.

The following officials were appointed for the 2007-08 season.

Club President Tim Cook

Club Captain David Knapp

Hon Secretary Dodie Khurshid

Hon Treasurer Martin Williamson

Hon Fixtures Secretaries Andrew Eve; Sarah Tucker

1XI Captain Eds Copleston

2XI Captain Abeed Janmohamed/Rob Merry

3XI Captain James Armitage/Richard Lawrence

4XI Captain Dom Tucker/Bertie Bance/Grant Archer

Vets Captain Wade Pollard

Ladies Captain Jax Joyce

Mixed Captain Rosie Marriott

A final message from CD – “I would also like to thank, on behalf of the club, Billy, Harmer and Hels for all of their efforts over the years running the 2XI (Studio), 4XI and Ladies respectively.” And we all endorse that.

Details about arrangements for the Summer League, subscriptions for 2007-08 and developments at the club to follow.

AGM set for March 28

A final reminder that the Annual General Meeting of the club take place on Wednesday, March 28 at the OC Club starting at 8pm. Lots to discuss, as Christian Davies writes:

“If you have anything that you want to discuss please let me know (christian.davies@citigroup.com) and we'll add it to the agenda which will be circulate by e-mail by the end of the week.

"Additionally, the end of season dinner is a week on Saturday(31st). Numbers are looking good (around 70 or so I'm told). So if you haven't already purchased your tickets please do so this weekend from Ed Breton (ed@bretonfitness.co.uk)."

AGM held ,,, and apathy rules

The AGM of the club took place at a packed Thames Ditton (!) where a number of issues were resolved and an even greater number deferred until the new committee's first meeting.

The good news was that after the disastrous losses sustained in the 1998-99 season, this time round the club managed a small surplus. This was attributable to a mild winter, with no matches cancelled, and tighter financial controls.

It was agreed that more had to be done next season to ensure that there was interchange between the sides; it was clear that we have fallen down on this of late and that in several instances players who have been dropped (usually through too many 'regulars' being available) have not been fielded by the next side down.

What they get up to in the summer with no hockey to play No.1 : Robin Leggett
The matter of umpires caused some consternation, with fewer individuals prepared to commit to officiating. There appears to be no real answer to this, although the 'you umpire my game and I'll umpire yours' approach may work for the lower sides.

The officials were elected largely unchanged (click here for full list). Simon Marshall stood down as Hon Secretary after several years of loyal service and was replaced by a genuine hockey player, Dodie Khurshid. Also, in a coup Nigel Fearnley stage-managed a political manouvre which would have done New Labour proud to oust Hamish Gowen as 4th XI vice-captain.

# The threat of expulsion from the league hanging over the 2nd XI has been lifted with the news that the punishment, which was levied as a result of our failure to pay a fine, has been deferred for 12 months.

# Congratulations to Danny Prior who successfully completed the London Marathon in a respectable time and raised over £3,000 into the bargain. Those of us who have played on the same pitch as Danny find it astounding that he ever broke into a trot, but well done anyway. The whereabouts of the other entrant, Tim 'this really is the last time' Nelligan, is unknown.a penalty-flick in the first-half. We await the league enquiry!