A busy week at THC with 18 teams in action last weekend, a busy committee meeting, planning for a busy few months hockey rolls on at THC for all ages and abilities ! There are lots of ways to support the blues !

#1 - be our 12th player and support our teams

The Ladies 1's have a classic six pointer game on Saturday at 12.30 (Sat) as they host Liverpool Sefton in an 9th v 8th clash - 3 point will springboard the girls into 8th place in the IWHL and build the platform to convert the hard work off the pitch into results over the final third of the season. Help us keep those National League Days rolling back to Stockport Road next year by coming along to support and cheer on the team as 12th player this week. The whole club is behind the girls and we can make huge difference by being down on the side line and pushing them on for a win. Entry is free and even if you cant stay for the whole game come down and catch some of the game and make a difference and do your bit !

The Mens 1 have the opportunity to bounce back this week after a tough weekend with two games and sadly another broken collar bone injury as Ben Smith became the third player in the Men's section to suffer this injury in two months. We wish Ben, Luke Foo and Dixon all the best for their rehab. Another double header this weekend with a 2.15pm push back v Sheffield University bankers HC on Saturday and a 12.45pm push back on Sunday v Alderley Edge. So come down and support the Men too !

Thanks to this weeks Match Day Sponsor - former Timperley Sports Club President and Ladies Hockey Chair and long time player and supporter of THC - Ruth Evans . Ruth will be down for the games and will also be one of our Stewards for the Ladies 1 game.

The Men's 2's have the trip of the week on Sunday with a hop up the M6 and across the Lakes to Cockermouth to play Keswick Mens 2 in the EH 2nd XI Plate with a nice 12.30pm start ! Its a long trip but with a Quarter Final place as the prize there's all to play for

#2 - play hockey and keep playing hockey!

Last Sunday we hosted the North Men's Hockey Association trials for the North Over 60, 65 and 70 teams at THC and it was a fantastic advert for hockey around 12.30pm as our Academy players finished training, with the Vets waiting eagerly to get on the pitches to play for a place on the North teams showing how hockey really does unite and span all ages and abilities !

One of last weekend's highlights was the best performance of the season from our Men's 6's propping up the North Leagues and with one draw all season it was great to hear from captain Dave Orpet how our band of back to hockey-ers, experience vets, guys that just want to play hockey and young players narrowly lost 0-1 in a terrific performance. The guys are making progress and on a roll now so Dave and the team are looking for that first win of the season and you can guarantee they'll be some celebrations in the bar after that one.

The Under 18 Girls also showed the never give up spirit on Sunday playing their EH Plate game with ten players and put up a fantastic performance against Deeside, and played some great hockey eventually going down 0-4. Our Under 16 Girls also gave Bowdon a good run for their money in the U16 EH Championship and our Under 13 Boys and Girls had a full afternoon's hockey in the GMJHL.

The Ladies over 35's bagged another win to take them into the Quarter Finals of the EH O35 Trophy - joining our Men's Over 50's in the last eight of the competition. The Ladies will be away at Leamington Spa on 26th February.

#3 - support social hockey and social events

Hockey and being part of a hockey club is about far more than 18 - 22 league games a season ! We offer hockey of all forms pretty much all year at THC and want to continue to build a full social programme for all members. Here's whats coming up over the next few weeks:

- Former THC hockey members lunch (aka Old Boys lunch) - Friday 17th February contact Nick Burnett for details and find out about the 'Walking Hockey'

- Half Term Hockey Camp - 13th - 15th February contact Caroline Small for details

- THC to host Cheshire Mini's Under 10 and Under 12 Girls Tournaments

- Men's Vets Tournament - 26th March contact Col Taylor for details or to help

- THC End of Season Dinner - Saturday 1st April get your tickets sorted early £30

- THC to host Cheshire Hockey Senior Cup Finals - 8th April

- Easter Hockey Camp - 10th - 12th April

- THC internal club Mixed Hockey mini tournament followed by the THC AGM - Saturday 22nd April

- Timperley Summer 'marquee' Ball late June (date tbc)

- then from May we'll be hosting men's and ladies summer leagues and the Men's (lower league side) tournament on Sat 6th May and Ladies Vet's 7's on Sat 10th June and before you know it it will be time to start pre season training !

#4 - Get involved and make a difference

Everything you've read about in today's Weekly Update, every game or training session or social event happens because people make it happen !

We're an ambitious club and we welcome new ideas and any contribution to making hockey at Timperley run and be even better. You don;t need to be a Captain or Committee Member to get involved and we're trying to find more ways for people to support in a range of ways and small a small occasional bit of time to part of the machine that makes hockey happen each week.

With a number of people standing down from the committee this years there are a number of roles that we're looking for people to take on, we're also looking for people to take on a smaller one off of less time committed activities. So if you love THC or like what we do - or what to improve things introduce new things to the club let us know - have a chat to any of the current committee: Shelagh; Bolts; Alex M, Cuey, Caroline Small; Jackie Lord; Woody; Malcolm or Rob Judd.

Some of the immediate things we're looking for people to get involved and help organise are:

- End of Season Dinner
- Men's Summer League
- Ladies Summer League
- Mens and Ladies Vets Tournaments
- Timperley Summer Ball

If you fancy getting involved or have ideas get in touch or let your captain know