On behalf of the club we'd like to wish everyone involved with THC a very happy New Year and big thank you for your all support and help in 2018. We hope everyone has enjoyed a short break from the hockey over the festive period and will be raring to go over the next week or so.

As in any year 2018 was a year of highs and lows and the bond across our hockey family was one that shone through tears and memories in the summer as we came to terms with the loss of Kwasi Emmanuel, and the support and love club members have shown to other members of our #hockeyfamily who have lost loved ones this year, or are dealing with challenging personal circumstances. We come together of course to play hockey and that's our common bond but for many involved with Timperley that bond goes far deeper than simply chasing a ball around a pitch.

With sadness there has also been great joy in 2018 - with new babies for many players and families involved and weddings too, the most recent being the marriage of Stephen Bolton and Becky Horan this week. We wish all our newly weds much happiness and look forward to welcoming all the new arrivals into the academy in 2023 !

We've waved long standing academy / club players off to University and welcomed others back in the holidays or after graduation. We've welcomed new players and families who moved to the area, or moved clubs to join us, and we've said farewell to other who have moved away or moved clubs.

The constant remains the club and the camaraderie and friendships built over short and long periods. The resilience of good season and bad seasons for players and teams, dealing with the impact of injuries, long rehab and the joy of being able to play again. Hockey is a serious business for us all - we train and play to improve and win games and leagues and cups - but most of all we should play to enjoy the game and be part of a club and a team - any team selected to play for. Hockey is not just about taking, its about giving too - what we put into the club, your team or helping other players irrespective of age or ability grow. It's also about personal responsibility too - what you can do to improve, to contribute to the club and squad.

2019 is an exciting year for the club as we move ever nearer the plans to development the club and replace our pitches - with that will come a need for team spirit and fund-raising !

2019 sees major changes to hockey too with the restructuring of the leagues at all levels. The Men's 1's remain in the running for a top four finish and promotion to the National League (North Conference) joining the Ladies 1 to give us two teams in the national league. We wish Albert and the Men's 1 every success in the second half of the season. The Men's 2's can also gain promotion with a top two finish, and with the expansion of the North Leagues the Ladies 2's can gain promotion to an additional West Pennine Premier Division (sitting between Div 2 and Div 1!) if they finish 2nd - 7th in their Division. Other teams are also in the running for promotions too. Its important to remember not all teams can win all games and those teams not in the running for promotions will also need our support to keep motivated and enjoying their hockey and building for next season.

2019 is also a year when we could have our best ever EH Cup runs with seven senior teams still in competitions and the academy teams competing for regional play off places, as well as the mini's competitions for Under 10 and 12's in the Spring.

Training restarts on Sunday 6th January for the Academy and Tuesday 8th January for Under 16's / Badgers and all Senior Groups. I'm sure after indulgent festive treats many of us will need to get some exercise in !

Finally, don't forget to get your voices warmed up for Stars in Your Eyes on Saturday 26th January from 7pm ! We've a number of acts already signed up but room for more. Enter on your own or as duo, trio or group ! Just let us know who you plan to 'be' and the name of the song you will perform by 13th January and get practising !

Have a very Happy New Year and we look forward to seeing everyone back at the club in early January ready to make 2019 a memorable year on and off the pitch !

Thank you for all your support in 2018.

Postscript. It's is with emmence sadness that since writing the weekly update that we heard today that much loved umpire and friend of Timperley and Northern hockey clubs - Steve Hamblett passed away at home on Friday. Steve regularly umpired the ladies vets, helped out at summer league and always offered to umpire any Timperley teams if it fitted in with his North Hockey umpiring appointments. Steve lived locally in Timperley and taught at Bowdon Church School. Our thoughts are with all those who knew Steve, shared a beer in the clubhouse with him after a game, and his wife Helen and daughter Lauren. We will share funeral arrangements once we hear more.