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It’s been 2 weeks since our fabulous end of season dinner dance, and a fitting time to look back at a great season as we begin preparations for the next. We had a huge turnout with over 100 members dressing up and joining the fun, and we had every reason to celebrate! This season has seen 4 adult teams promoted and 2 junior teams crowned champions in one of the most successful seasons for the club in a decade. These results are a testament to the hard work of our coaches, captains, volunteers, and everyone who’s turned up week in, week out to play for the club. So many people deserved recognition for their efforts this season that it was difficult to narrow down winners for many of the awards that were presented, but those who did win are detailed below.
This goes to a team who despite a few injury knockbacks at the beginning of the season set the pace for the title challenge to the rest of the teams in their league from the off.
They had some tough games along the way but even when it didn’t go quite their way they buckled down and moved on.
Winning a total of 15 games, drawing 3, only losing 4 and scoring 55 goals over the course of the season, was enough to secure them promotion back to Premier 1 at the first time of asking.
Led by their abled and enthusiastic Captain Rachel Maunder, the Ladies’ Team of the Year award goes to the Ladies 1’s
This has been an exceptional season for the men’s section. Some fantastic performances and team building across the club has resulted in top half finishes for all but one team in the section, and so the competition for this award has been tight right down to the last game.
Every team has had its share of positives this season, but the battle for men’s team of the season has come down to 2 teams that have achieved more than anybody expected at this point last season. The AXI won their league, only losing a single game all season, scoring a hatful of goals, and sending 4 of their players off to represent their countries at the Master’s World Cup. The 2XI achieved promotion back to Div 3 South at the first time of asking, clocking some huge wins in an incredibly competitive league, developing some fantastic young talent and supplying players to the 1s and 3s when needed. But this award is about more than just on pitch achievements.
The men’ section team of the season goes to a team that has worked incredibly hard to shift the culture within the squad from a team that spent last season fighting itself more than the opposition and being quite rightly relegated for it, to a team where every player feels welcomed, valued and respected. Everybody in this squad has worked hard to improve their game, to hold one another to account and to drive performances that just 12 months ago would’ve seemed impossible, and they have been rewarded with a promotion clinched right at the last. Their commitment to each other and the rest of the club this year, getting their availability set early, facing long away days and attending socials and club events has been second to none, and they should be proud of how far they’ve come in 12 short months. Without further ado, it gives me great pleasure to present the men’s section team of the season award to the Men’s 2s.
This goes to a person that has been with the club for over 30 years and has inspired many along the way. She has played in the various teams, has captained for a bit and umpired in her time. She loves to score a goal of two and always celebrates with a little skip. I’m sure she has a tale or two from the many tours she’s been on but be warned if you’ll out celebrating and she is on the Guinness, guard your high heels shoes she likely to try them for size!
She is supportive of her teammates and even when she was injured, she has been there on the sidelines.
Back on the pitch, she has recently represented her age group at South and has travelled with the England LX to many a tournament, only last year she to the World Cup in New Zealand where her team won the MC tournament.
She is loved by all,
The Ladies Section award goes to Annie Day
This is another award that was difficult to pin down for the men’s section this year, with so many players contributing so much to the club. It’s impossible to call out everyone, but I’d like to draw attention to a few massive contributors to our success this season that may not be up for other awards tonight. Steve Clark played the journeyman, being posted to back-to-back to back-to-back away games without complaint. Tom Cruickshanks has equally spread his play across the club and has helped out with coaching on Wednesdays. Steve Boyd has shown up to run the 2s bench every week and donated his knees to the 3s on several occasions. Alfie Latimore has developed so quickly that he went from his first game of adult hockey to supporting the 2s in just a few games. Seb Zwolinski has cemented his place in the 1s and helped out with coaching the juniors on Sunday mornings and Justin Yang has helped coordinate the Otters and the umpires despite some tough personal circumstances.
But this award will be going to a player that has gone above and beyond week in, week out. This player has upped his game technically, physically and mentally across the course of the season and is developing into a fine young player. He’s at training every week without fail, and constantly pushing himself to improve despite being his own harshest critic, and he’s started to pass on his knowledge to the younger players at the club, becoming a great role-model at junior coaching on Wednesdays and Sundays, and has even picked up the whistle, umpiring for both junior and adult games.
This year he’s bounced back against an injury that kept him sidelined for the majority of last season, and been instrumental in the 2s promotion push, getting himself into the Hampshire U16 squad, and earning himself some runouts in the 1s, registering a goal for every adult team he’s played in. This player has a bright future ahead of him, and I look forward to seeing what the next few years brings for him and the teams he plays in. Thank you for all your hard work and commitment, and congratulations to Jack O’Brien.
This award goes to a player who first picked up a stick as a youngster and joined SHC Sunday morning training in the Junior Girls Section. She has progressed through all the junior age groups playing a variety of positions and leading by example as a Captain. She is a very confident player who has achieved a high standard both as an individual and as a team player. She has moved through the ladies’ teams, and she has established herself as an important asset in junior & adult league matches.
This young lady has been selected for Hampshire yet again this season showing that she has the potential to play at a higher level.
This player should be aiming to move into the first team and consolidate her place next season. She is a delight to coach, as she is always keen to share her opinion but at the end of the day, she is keen to achieve the highest standards and score as many goals as possible. A big congratulations goes to this player for her success this season and we can’t wait to see what success she has in the coming seasons.
The Junior Girls Player of the Season award goes to Mollie Ashley.
The junior boy's coaches have had a tough time deciding who to give this award to this year. We are lucky enough to have a huge amount of talent coming up through our ranks, and you could build a full squad out of the players that deserve recognition this season, be it for their development across the season, their ability on the pitch, or their contributions to the wider club. But in the end, there can be only one winner, and so we must look for a player that ticks all three boxes.
This player has shown incredible development over the last few years, and while their junior hockey has been somewhat limited by a lack of an under 18 team this season, their adult hockey has only gone from strength to strength. They have contributed their time to help coach on Sunday mornings, acting as a mentor and role model to a new generation of players, and have joined our pool of talented young umpires, helping both the ladies' and men's section around their Saturday games.
They have represented the club at county level and for their college and have made themselves a staple player in the 1st eleven, contributing 4 goals and assists from the heart of midfield to help the 1s push agonisingly close to promotion. We have no doubt that this player will continue to develop over the coming season and beyond and look forward to seeing what the future holds for their hockey.
The Junior Section Player of the Season award goes to Hal Pearson.
This award goes to a person who started at the Club over 10 years ago as a parent before being persuaded to become a helper then stepping up to take on a coaching role. He enjoys improving players skills & knowledge of the game which he does with aplomb.
He has revitalised the junior girls’ U12 section of the Club over the last few of years, contributing to making his U12’s team very competitive in their Sunday league matches.
I know Roger would be delighted to see the continued growth and development of the girl’s section especially seeing the girls respect this coach and enjoy positive banter with him. Roger would be delighted to watch this coach developing his skills supported Mags, Sue & Steve to such an extent.
that his U12 girls have become 2024-25 League Champions.
Congratulations and a huge thank you goes to Andy Gaete. Collected by Mia and Libby.
The award this year goes to one of THE hardest workers on a pitch that you will ever see. She has often been the last line of defence and has made incredible tackles (despite playing with her for 9 years is never ceases to amaze me the tackles this person makes) and always follows it up with brilliant distribution from the back – we’ve always got to be ready, she’s a fan of taking a quick 16! She is consistent, reliable and gives 110% to every game no matter what and will put her body on the line for the team - I’m sure there is probably half the skin of her knees dotted around various hockey pitches.
It’s incredible to think that she was able to come back to this level 4 months after giving birth! And it’s very rare that we did not have her most recent addition on the side line with her brother and now it wouldn’t be a Saturday without them! I’m sure the whole team agree that it’s been great to have her back on the pitch after having her watch and captain from the side last year and she has been a big contributing factor to our success as a team this year. So, I am pleased to say this seasons Ladies 1s Players Player award goes to Lauren Gunner.
This player is seasoned and has seen his fair time in almost all positions across the pitch.
He always turns up to the start of a game with a smile on his face looking forward to scoring some goals, however, not always consistent with the amount he scores.
He is reliable, knowledgeable and can be trusted to hit the ball along the ground. He has been a big help to his captain, giving his valued opinion, and has helped some of the newer members of the team whilst out on the pitch.
Not only are his Saturdays taken up with Hockey, but he makes the additional effort of coaching some of the Juniors on a Sunday, showing great dedication to the club. On the other hand, his training start time on a Wednesday night does seem to be different to everyone else's. Even with this handicap, he has managed to improve his game over the season, becoming a goal scoring forward rather than an assisting one.
Maybe next season, when trying a first time hit after receiving an aerial will end with a goal. Can't wait to see that Facebook post! Leading our forward line being the top goal scorer; this seasons Mens 1s Players player is Ian Jacobs.
This goes to a player who is totally committed to both training and playing matches. She has become a key player to the squad and her adaptability is amazing. She is never phased when asked to play in a different position, she just gets on and does the job she has been asked to do and always does it well.
Her ability has really shone through this season, and this has been recognised by her teammates as she has had many player of the match votes throughout the season.
We will sadly be seeing disappear off to Uni next season, but we wish her every success.
The Ladies 2’s players player for 2024/25 goes to Emily Page
Men’s 2s Players player of the year award this season was very closely contested and gave a very positive reflection of how well the team has improved since the 2023/24 season.
However, there was an outright winner who is very deserving of the accolade nominated by his peers.
This player has been consistently solid in his performances and at the risk of it going to his head, probably one of our best players too.
In many respects he has shown the authority of a captain, and arguably without him we may not have had as many good games and wins as we did.
It has been noted that it is good to have a player like him coming in to “run” the midfield and questioned as to whether he ever stops running or knows how to give anything less than 110%?! And he is always good entertainment to watch play!
To quote one of his teammates “He's been a beast in the midfield, and his drag flicks could stop a Russian tank. He just runs and runs and runs all season and is deserved of the top goal scorer for the men’s 2s with 18 goals.
The men’s 2s players player of the year is Lucca Stead!
The 3's Player's player this year always gives 100% . She shows up every game, full of enthusiasm, energy and positivity and always delivers a solid performance. She doesn’t stop talking throughout the match, encouraging us and telling us what we’re meant to be doing. This player is an experienced head on young shoulders - a great defender who has developed so much over the last couple of seasons. We are grateful that she brings the first aid kit and our ever-growing hockey ball collection each week and for providing our warm-up playlist! We are so glad she's sticking around when she starts university in September.
This year's 3s Players' Player goes to Mia Gaete!
The men’s 3XI have had no shortage of players to vote for for player of the season for this year with a total of 57 different players representing the 3s in varying capacities, and amid varying results… but every tumultuous sea has its dry land.
In a season where wins have been hard to come by, and goal concessions were in the high 80s across the season, it would be easy to question why the front runners for this award were all part of the 3s defensive set up, however it is thanks to their regularity, stability and hard work that the rest of the 3s cohort had a platform to smash and grab the wins they did achieve, and so it comes as no surprise that the winner of this award is the most regular and stable of them all.
It could be argued that this player has spent the past few seasons intentionally flying under the radar to avoid fines, however with a lack of captain to administer said fines, his motivation to provide steady, calm, pragmatic performances week in, week out has been under question this season. Nonetheless, this player has provided exactly that, and he would’ve had the stand-alone highest appearances for the 3s this season had his performances not earned him a call up to the 2s for their top of the table crunch match late in the season. This player, like a fine wine, seems only to get better with age, and it gives me great pleasure to pull him out of the shadows to present him this well-deserved award.
Congratulations to the men’s 3XI players player of the season, Simon Wilson!
The award this year goes to a player who has been absolutely committed to both her training on Wednesdays and games on a Saturday. She has become a key player in the forward line and always leads by example. She always gives 100% no matter what! Her development and improvement have led to her playing some games for the 3s towards the end of the season and this is something she should be setting her sites on to do more of next season.
The Ladies 4s Players Player goes to Caitlin Dries.
This season the award goes to one of the quietest players in the team. He's popular amongst his peers, has a great thirst to learn and over the season has determinedly forced his way through the pack to just about become the first name on the team sheet. He's calm, thoughtful and deceptively incisive in his formidable defensive play, exerting complete dominance over his opponents. The phrase "he's got him in his pocket" has come to mind many times over the last six months as we have effectively won games not by scoring dozens of goals, but by controlling opposition attacks, minimising their shots on target and winning by the odd goal or two.
He's impressively made left back his own position, his marking is exceptional, as are his positioning and overall reading of the game, he's doing fantastically well for one of such tender years and the potential he has as he matures and becomes stronger is seriously impressive. It will be fascinating to see what heights he reaches over the next two or three years.
The Otters players' player of the season is Daniel Foster
With 30 different Ladies 5s players this season and 9 strong nominees for Players Player 2024/25, this player won through for her positive approach and relentless tenacity on the pitch. Her teammates commended her for putting in 100% effort in every game.
One of our younger team members, she has shown remarkable maturity both on and off the pitch. Quietly determined and a joy to watch play, she runs down every ball and is regularly held up as a shining example of how we want to play our game in our half-time team talks.
She works hard at training, both developing her own skills and quietly encouraging newer members of the team. This season she has broadened her experience by moving into the midfield when needed and… at times… she could even be spotted in the defensive line-up! Even when an injury stopped her playing, she came to support from the sidelines, demonstrating her commitment to the team.
One teammate summed up her performance this season: “she’s just amazing to watch and play alongside, a strong team player with fantastic skills".
Our 5s Players Player for 2024/25 is Emily Hoy.
Player of the season for the AXI was an easy one this year. Amassing an incredible 24 league goals across the season this player was instrumental to the AXI promotion push. He represented his country at the Master’s World Cup as well as his county in masters’ fixtures, and it is no surprise he won the vote almost unanimously. Congratulations on a fantastic season to Steve Douty.
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