Period at Saxons:1978 - 2009, 2 yrs as Team secretary for 6 teams(70 calls a week!!), 4th team captain, indoor league organiser, Sunday mixed organiser, Sunday mens organiser.

Fondest Memories:

4th team festivals, in particular the image of Bob Falla (4th team goalie), ankle deep in water, trying to drain a flooded grass pitch with a pint pot! Also the infamous Mayors receptions!!
Thursday evening mixed at Folkestone + the occasional Easter festival
Islanders Tournament at Portsmouth, ruined many a player
Winning the league with the 4th team in 05.06

Worst Memories:

The sad passing of some good friends, Kevin Barry, John Logan and more recently Gerard Venes.
4 stitches in my head, courtesy of Mike Jenners stick
Having to give up hockey through ill health

Players from the time:
Alan Hooper, Geoff Tree, Mike Thomas and John Mayo, all helped develop my game. Other notable players were Bill Butler, Perry May, Mike and Jon Jenner, Nigel and John Hinkley, Bob Phillips, the Merediths (Paul snr,, Iain and Paul Jnr)Andy Hales, Chippy Harbord, Ali and Dan Burnett and Julian Buss, mostly helped develop my drinking.

What do you think about the modern game:
The big change in local hockey is the lack of the game at the schools. In the mid-late 70s, the Sussex Schools sides usually had at least half from Hastings (The Grove and The Grammar School (now ARK William Parker)). Hockey was quite a popular game.

The introduction of both league hockey and astroturf pitches has taken a lot away from the game, we used to have block fixtures against the strong Kent/Sussex teams, with the 1st team on a par with the opposition.

Nothing like seeing 3 games on at once, the atmosphere in the bar afterwards with 50-70 players vying for food and a beer! Enjoyed Canterbury, Gore Court, Tunbridge Wells, Folkestone, East Grinstead, Maidstone, Sevenoaks, Brighton, Lewes. Highlight was meeting the opposition, making their way home, several will remember the Barley Mow, The Curlew or meeting Bob Jensen and Nigel Seeley in the Woolpack.
I can even remember the Mens 1s beating East Grinstead!

And how would some of the younger players cope with a sodden, half flooded, bumpy grass pitch, offside, turning/obstruction, having to find the ball in the bushes or pluck it from a river/stream!

And to all, it is still a game, so enjoy it and make wonderful friends, I know I did.

PHOTO MEMORIES: Seven Photo's below from 'Barrel'
Barrel in 'Black and White'

Barrel 'takes a swing'

2005/2006 Mens 4's Division Champions

Mixed Hockey

Festival Team

Festival Team

Mens 1's

Stats on the black 'n' white Mens 1's photo, possibly the best first team we have had!!
Back row L to R - Jon Stewart (Cambridge Blue), Derek Addrison, Roger Dennett, Mike Acott (Full Sussex +), Paul Masterton (Full Sussex Captain, Dick Tanner (Oxford Blue, Full Sussex, England and GB)
Front row L to R - John Matthews (Sussex U21), Nigel Harper, Steve Boswell (Full Sussex), Simon Bollom (Full Sussex, Kent, RAF & Combined Services), Phil Gregory (Sussex A Captain), Tim Jones (Wales U21)
Class team, some very good players!!