Happy Easter and we hope everyone has a little downtime from hockey this weekend!
No Academy Training on Easter Sunday as our volunteer coaches and support team take a well earned rest and some down family and friends time. Tuesday training is on for Under 16's and U10/12 Squads involved in North Regional Finals on 3rd and 10th April.

With no hockey its an ideal time to take the 2017-18 THC on line survey to share your views about THC and how we do things Click here to complete the Survey - the survey is open to anyone involved with THC, players, coaches, supporters.

League hockey has now ended for all senior teams for the season and all teams have retained respective league position. Well done to all teams, coaches and manager's on their performances over the season and for making hockey happen week in week out for some many people. We will be doing a full review of the season - but see a few headlines from last weekend's games below.

Gone are the days when hockey stopped on the final day of the league season and the social side of hockey really comes into its own over the spring and summer months. We've four first's for THC this week that really bring to life the spirit of hockey and what sets us aside from many sports !

#1 - 17th Annual Men's Vets Tournament decided by new format SlowMo Shuffles

Now in its 17th year our annual Vets tournament, run by Colin Taylor, with able assistance on the day Ruth Evans, may have reduced in size from years ago and, but it certainly didn't lack drama or the ability to raise £585 for the hockey section ! A huge thanks to Colin for organising the event and raising so much for the section.
For many this is a very poignant day, the tournament trophy is in memory of a much loved club member Geoff Hind, a day to remember Geoff but also one to enjoy all the things Geoff loved about hockey - bringing hockey folks together, enjoying some good competitive but social hockey and a few drinks in the bar after.

This year's final ended in a draw this year and Nick Burnett as Umpire supremo sprung into actions to bring the excitement of the Rio 2016 shot out to Stockport Road. All poised for the mighty Timperley team to take on the North Over 50's (including Colin Taylor himself !). Take a look at the @TimperleyHockey Facebook page to see the video's of the shuffles and spot some of the more unusual elements !

#2 - Bumper crowd for Cheshire WHL Division 2 promotion decider

Following the heartbreak of the Men's 2's losing to Wrexham the week before, that resulted in Wilmslow Men's 2's being crowed NWHL Division 3 (South) Champion's, the Ladies 2's played Wilmslow 2's in the CWHL Division 2 decider as Wilmslow needed to win to clinch promotion and the title. Alas, Timperley were playing for honour as they stepped out to play their first league game mid week and under lights at 7.30pm !

A quiet Tuesday night was turned on its head with a travelling band of tangerine support from Wilmslow with bottles fizz at the ready, a good Timperley crowd was down too - but we were also joined from players from Crewe Vagrants and Golborne who would both gain promotion to CWHL Division 1 if Wilmslow lost. Spurred on by partisan support Timperley Ladies 2's came out top as 2 - 0 winners in a fantastic game. Wilmslow's heartbreak certainly matched the emotions our Men's 2'd went through last week and showed the joy and heartache of sport so clearly.

Jo Nicholson was certainly buoyed up by the size and sound of the crowd. Evening matches are gradually starting to appear in the National League and BUCS hockey and it was good to have a first for our bumper crowd down for a Ladies game following last weeks Men's game. Thanks to everyone that came down to support the girls - it was a real highlight of the season !

#3 - Dutch Visitors

We were delighted to be able to host a touring Dutch side VMHC Basko from Veldhoven, near Eindhoven, in the Netherlands on 0th March for an evening game. Basko's MC1 Girls Team (U14) played our Under 15/16 Girls in the latest of a number of games we've hosted against touring sides. There have all been brilliant opportunities for our younger player and they've been a credit to the club in the way they've welcomed visiting teams and socialising.

We fielded a team drawn from across the U14/15/16 age groups so our hadn't played together as a team before but under the guidance of our Ladies 1 Co-Captain and coach for the night Vicky Lomas, the girls really up'ed their game and against a really skilful and fluid Basko team. The Dutch as we'd expected played some superb hockey from the transfer, strength and control on the reverse, first touch and fantastic supporting play and they were a pleasure to meet, play against and watch. The Timperley girls rose to the challenge and played some of the best hockey of the season, in a tightly fought 70 minutes of hockey.

Timperley lost 0 - 4 on the night and three of the Dutch fours goals would certainly have not been out of place in senior hockey. A big thanks to young Charlie Woods who was drafted in to cover the keeper slot due to holidays, Charlie made some great saves and helped contain the scoreline along with determined defending by the blues. The evening also gave our young players another first hand experience of why we call it out #hockeyfamily and what its means to be with fellow hockey players. Thanks to the crowd that came down to watch, Patty and Shelagh for umpiring and Caroline Small and Sarah Chancellor setting the match up.

.....roll on a club tour to the Netherlands! Basko HC is about 3 miles from the site of the family Timperley Men's Centenary Tour to Eindhoven back in 1986 so that bought back a few memories so some !

#4 - 2018 Dinner sells out !

A real first in recent history! The 007 themed dinner on Friday 20th April is now officially sold out. Thanks to everyone who has got tickets - we've had an overwhelming response with 125 attending! There's a really positive vibe about the event and a brilliant cross section of players, coaches, umpires, partners and supporters of THC coming along. If you've not got a ticket and would like to come contact Shelagh or timperlehc@gmail.com and we'll pop your name on a waiting list in case anyone who has a ticket can't make it .

With the tickets all sold we've now got three weeks to finalise arrangements for the night, from the cocktail menu, the music, awards, raffle, auction and entertainment with our MC for the night Dave Litt guiding us through proceedings. Its good to hear some deep thought going into the 007 Theme too on the outfits front !

We'll be contacting everyone this week to confirm places, confirm any dietary requirements and the timing. Please be aware we are right at the capacity of the kitchen so we are will be bringing the timings forward to ensure there's plenty of time to cut some shapes at the end of the evening on the dance floor !

Due to the numbers the arrival and welcome drink will be from 7.00pm with sit down at 7.30pm - we know this may be tight for some people a its a work day however we
are sure you'll appreciate the maximum numbers do mean that to keep to schedule we need to get everyone sat down a tad earlier.

We've also got a GB Men's signed hockey shirt up for grabs in the auction - and more details on how to place bids if you're not coming along will follow next week, That's to Vicky Lomas for sourcing this !

Other news
We'll be doing a full review of the season in the lead up to out hockey AGM on 13th May.
A few highlights from the last weekend of the season:
- Men's 1 beat Brooklands Mens 2s North Prem Champions 5-1
- Men's 2's notch up another win to finish Div 3 (South) on level points with Wilmslow, and a superior Goal Difference - but alas the results of the head to head games decide in NWHL not Goal Difference. Depending on what happens in the higher leagues with movement of teams there is a possibility that two teams would gain promotion for Div 3 - so fingers crossed for the Men's 2s.
- The Men's 6's topped off the season beating Macclesfield 4-1 to finish 4th in the league a real turnout from last season when they only won one game
- Ladies 1 played well against Loughborough Students but failed to get the vital touches in front of goal and lost the game but finish safe from the relegation play off's.
- the Mixed XI crashed out of the EH Cup away at Huddersfield Dragons after drawing 3-3 in normal time we went out on flicks.

The new Club Ties will be arriving in the next week so don't forget to order your's on line now! We’ll then be in touch to arrange for pick up / collection. http://www,timperleyhockeyclub.com/payments

Finally, we shared the news last week of the passing of Kenny Palin. Kenny's funeral will be taking place at 2pm on Friday 6th April at Altrincham Methodist followed afterwards at Altrincham FC Community Centre - we know many from TCC will be attending and a number of hockey folks are also attending. Alex Morley is looking for a new date for the Testimonial game in Memory of former THC player Dave Cameron who passed away a few weeks ago. Alex is looking for a date to get the game scheduled in the summer.

THC DATES FOR THE DIARY

3rd - 5th April - Hockey Camps at THC
8th April - Academy Training / Manchester Marathon - be aware road closures !
15th April - North U10 /12 Finals at Leeds University
20th April - 2018 Hockey Dinner - SOLD OUT
21st April -Men's Lower League Tournament at Timperley
26th April - TSC Club Development Update and AGM
28th April - Men's O50's National Final 4.30pm at University of Birmingham
13th May - End of season - Academy Presentations, Senior internal club mixed 7's and AGM
15th May - Ladies Summer League starts - waiting list in operation - bumper response !
16th May - Men's Summer League starts

More updates next week and how to sign up for the THC internal club social Mixed 7's on Sunday 13th May.