This weekend see's the long awaited return of Stars in Your Eyes and we can't thank those players who've come forward to perform on Saturday evenings enough for helping make our first hockey social of 2019 be a truly entertaining night for all !

Take a look at whose on the bill Stars in Your Eyes - line up revealed

Come down from 7pm, grab a front row table so your don't miss any of the finer details being put into costumes and dance routines (and of course the singing !). Our compere for the night will be Mr David Litt and the first act will be introduced and perform at 7.30pm. Once all the acts have performed you the audience will get to vote and we'll announce our winner - then its time to push the tables back and hit with dance floor with the Disco til midnight.

Weather watch !

This weekend looks to be milder and hopefully all hockey will be on - certainly doesn't look like any sign of frost or snow at Stockport Road. Training was affected by frozen pitches this week and we continued to run 'Plan B' coaching sessions where all groups (except the Beavers) moved into the clubhouse for whiteboard and tactics sessions or video analysis sessions. Hockey isn't all about running around and occasionally there's a lot to learn from stepping off the pitch and taking stock and working through scenarios and ideas. The Ladies Club Group at 7pm had a really good session with Mark Talbot discussing out-letting, options and ways to counter different opposition sets up and got so engrossed they didn't have time to do as much on pressing options as planned !

Our aim is to run with 'Plan B' sessions (inside) if the pitches are not playable. So do give coming down to a 'Plan B' session a go if we're hit with unplayable pitches again.

Quick reminder on our policy and process for winter weather shared before Xmas - do check on Pitchero, facebook and twitter for updates if the weather is doubtful http://www.timperleyhockeyclub.com/news/winter-weather-update-heres-all-you-need-to-know-a-2368754.html

EH Championships Update

We're back into full swing now with Sunday EH games and have a bumper day coming up on 3rd February with five EH championships games so what better reason to pop down to the club and support the blues with Men's 1's, Ladies Over 35's, Under 16 boys and girls and Under 14 boys all with home ties and the under 14 boys away at Bowdon.

The Mighty Mixed XI are through the to third round gaining another walkover as Brooklands were unable to field a side ....... No comment there but Wez and Lomas will be rallying their band of brothers and sisters and heading off to the Wirral to play Neston on 17th February. The Men's Over 50's had a bye and so had a run out against Deeside Over 50's for some practice and notched up a good win. The Gents have only gone and drawn Formby in the next round at home on 17th February in a re-run of the 2017 final !

For the Ladies over 45's the road to Lee Valley came to an end but only following an incredible game of hockey verses Sutton Coldfield going down 2 -7. Both sides played some great hockey and an incredible advert for masters hockey. Sutton are definitely in it to win it having assembled a squad of including three former GB/England international and 5 - 6 current England masters players.

Our photo of the week is a great advert for our sport showing the Over 45's number 1 fan in young Isabel who has loyally supported her Mum Anna and the squad at all our games - here meeting with a real legend of the game Jane Sixsmith MBE, four time Olympian, Olympic bronze, commonwealth silver and European Gold medals and England's all time top goal scorer (and she got a couple on Sunday at Timperley too!). Whats even more impressive is that she only started playing aged 12 and has played for Sutton since she was 15 - and is still playing National League Hockey at 51 and has played at this level since the league was formed 30 years ago.

An incredible advert for hockey as a sport, longevity of playing and also commitment to club hockey and one club through thick or thin. For many of the oldies it was a great opportunity to play against once of the greats and even get the odd tackle in ! As if having one legend wasn't enough Sutton also had former England Captain Mandy Davies playing as well - Mandy also joined Sutton as a 13 year old! So lots of inspiration there for our younger players! Playing in such a good game was the big take away for the day and to compete and lose against such a good team. Always next year and now the Over 45's can turn to supporting the Over 35's !

Other news

Hockey Camps - we'll be announcing a re-jig of out hockey holiday camps for February Half Term in the next day or so - partly to reflect the split week half term and also to offer some different options to attract more players to come along. Bookings will need to be made in advance by a deadline date - we need to reach minimum numbers to run the camp days

Heart Screening for Young People - something very close to all of us touched by the loss of Kwasi last summer - we'll be sharing details of the opportunity to book free heart screening in memory of Chloe Waddell - and more about Chloe's story and this vital programme of screening.

Grow a Tenner - thanks to everyone who signed up - the club has been able to acquire a replacement tractor (currently being serviced along with a special brush for the astro's to help maintain them and keep them in tip top condition.

Lets get a good turnout on Saturday evening to give us a proper social hockey start to 2019.

Finally, a big thank you to this week's Match Day Sponsor, Matthew Horan. Come down and support Matt and the Men's 1s at 12.30 v Lindum in their North Prem match. After another win away last week at Chester the lad are now up to 3rd place in the league.