Cheshire Seniors and Under 21
Mens Match Secretary’s Report 2004-2005
Snow and ice on Boxing Day forced the cancellation of
the traditional fixture against Lancashire. As
a result, competitive matches for both under 21 and Senior
teams have been limited to the County
Championship competition
this season.
The under 21s lost 0-4 to Yorkshire
(the eventual North Winners) in a game where the opposition were just a little
better in most departments. The game against Lancashire
(thank you Bowdon for providing the pitch and the refreshments) was closer, but
we eventually lost 2-3. The squad shows much promise and it should be
remembered that many of them are still at school and almost all are available
next year. If we can keep them together as a group, then the future looks good.
Special thanks should go to Jeff Gazzard
who has single handedly gathered the squad and done all the organisation for this group.
The senior team have faired better,
beating the Army 9-1, Herefordshire 7-3, the Isle of Man
10-0 and Cambridgeshire to win the preliminary round of the B Division
Championships. It has to be said that Cheshire do not belong in the B Division
at all and it is to be hoped that they can go down to East Grinstead on the
Spring Bank Holiday weekend, win the championship and return to their natural
home in the top Group of Counties. A
special thank you goes to Oxton Hockey Club who
hosted this round of the Championships. Dave Billington,
Melinda James and their team did an exemplary job on behalf of Cheshire and at least one visiting team
manager commented it was the best tournament he had ever taken a team to.
It is disappointing that, with the exception of
Bowdon, there is little support amongst the players or clubs of Cheshire for this
competition. The issue is not selecting a team, it is
more about finding players who are prepared to actually turn out for the
County. This is even more difficult if it involves travelling. Jeff Gazzard (again) deserves credit for stepping in to manage
the team at Oxton at (very) short notice. Dave Alcock
is manager.
Players representing the County at both levels are as
follows:-