I hope everyone is enjoying their summer. Whilst it is still the holiday season (only just), the new hockey season is just around the corner and approaching fast with our first games less than a month away on 21st September. Since my last catch up there are some playing and non-playing items to bring you up to date with.

On the playing side we had 2 Men’s and 3 Ladies teams competing in Summer Leagues, with our joint Ladies 1st and 2nd picking up the trophy for winning the Maldon Summer League. Whilst our U14 mixed team played Old Southendians and Upminster in a mixed tournament for the Olympics and despite playing without a Goalkeeper won the tournament. A date for your diaries, if it is not already in, is the 7th September when the annual Southend Hockey Club Day will take place, it would be great to get as many of you as possible down to Sweyne and kick off the new season in a positive way.

On the non-playing side of things, you should have all received some form of communication asking you to join the new Southend Hockey Club website, that officially went live on 23rd August, and to download the Pitchero Club App. Whilst the majority of you have signed up there are still a few of you that have not done so. All the fixtures for next season are now available, however the venues and times for some of the fixtures are still to be confirmed. Please can I ask you to help our Captains and Coaches by confirming your availability for matches and training as soon as possible.

At the AGM in May you agreed to the Committees proposal to create a Social and Fundraising Sub Committee, and they have really hit the ground running with a calendar of planned events for the season:
• Saturday 7th September – Club Day with evening at the Clubhouse
• Saturday 5th October - Social & Games Night at the Clubhouse
• Saturday 2nd November – Southend HC has Talent at the Clubhouse
• Saturday 7th December - Christmas Quiz at the Clubhouse
• Saturday 29th March – End of Season Quiz at the Clubhouse
• Saturday 26th April – SHC Sports Day
• Saturday 10th May – Dinner, Dance and Awards Night at Chalkwell Park Rooms
All of the events will be on the website and the Pitchero Club App in due course either as an event for you to confirm you will be attending (there will a small charge on the night) or for you to purchase your tickets as in the case of the Dinner, Dance and Awards Night.

All that remains for me to say make the most of what is left of the summer and enjoy those pre-season training sessions and friendlies and let us make the 2024-2025 season an enjoyable and successful one.

I’m looking forward to seeing many of you at the Sweyne for the Club Day and in the evening at the Clubhouse.

Peter Woodman
Chairperson