Another season is now completed, and we would like to thank all our member, volunteers, captains, managers, parents, coaches, supporters and sponsors for #MakingHockey Happen and being part of Timperley during another active season on and off the pitch. A big thank you to those who attended last weeks AGM as we concluded the formal part of the season and looked forward to 2025-26 with developments on and off the pitch.

Key highlights for 2024-25 include:

• Men’s 1’s undefeated in Conference North and promoted as Champions to play national League Div 1 (North) the highest level in the club’s 139 year history
• U18 Girls crowned England Hockey Tier 2 Winners
• O55 Women Crowned EH Championship Tier 2 Winners
• Men’s 6’s promoted as Champions
• 350 club umpiring appointments
• Men’s 1’s shortlisted finalists for EH Awards Men’s Team of the Year (awards announced on 7th June 2025)
• Blue Pitch replaced and improved including fencing, spectator barrier and new LED floodlights investing another £200k + in our excellent playing facilities
• 14 senior league teams with men’s 8 completing first full season in NW league plus 4 master teams and mixed XI
• Junior hockey and teams continue to thrive and provide hockey for all
• Hockey section operated within budget and generated a small surplus
• Fundraising helped grow our THC Development Fund to support future investment in club and facilities
• Growing programme of hockey for all and growing membership
• TSC submitted planning permission to extend and improve the clubhouse

See the attached Summary Pack from the AGM

THC Committee - #MakingHockeyHappen
As well as our small army of volunteer captains, managers, coaches, helps and our core team of self-employed coaches’ hockey at Timperley is run by a small committee that is guided by our vision and #oneclub ethos (male/female and juniors). Much of the work is behind the scenes ad not visible but it’s vital to #makinghockeyhappen on and off the pitch from all from. Big thanks to our 204-25 committee – Shelagh Everett, Kieran Jeffery, Haroon Bangee, Rob Judd, Andy Entwisle, Siobhan Driscol (and Lydia Maddock latterly), Dave Price, Anna Mawby, Jo Robinson and Sarah Wilkins – plus all those in support roles.

We were sad to share that two amazing stalwarts who epitomise #makinghockeyhappen and what it is to be a Blue are standing down after a number of years service.

Huge thank you to Anna Mawby who has been our Junior Chair / lead for a number of years and guided our juniors to the next level from national championships to growth and developments in all we do for our growing band of juniors on and off the pitch. Huge thanks to Anna.

Jo Robinson is also stepping down as Development Chair which she’s done for two seasons following an unbelievable stint as Women’s Club Captain, again Jo’s contribution has been massive and helped grow the ladies to six senior teams and we will miss her clear thinking and problem solving skills.

Big boots to fill and we are currently in discussions with a few people about potentially taking on the roles as both currently vacant.

The AGM elected the following to be officers of THC for 2025-26

• Chair – Shelagh Everett
• Vice Chair (TSC focus) – Haroon Bangee
• Treasurer – Andrew Entwisle
• Secretary – Rob Judd
• Men’s Club Captain – David Price
• Women’s Club Captain – Lydia Maddock
• Vice Chair, Junior Chair and Development Chair – vacant to be filled

Appointed roles includes: Sarah Wilkins, Lead Welfare Officer, Kieran Jeffery, Fixtures Secretary and Membership Secretary (players 16+), Lilia Scott – social media for women’s teams. Other roles to be filled over the summer including, comms and social media, junior membership, umpire co-ordination, match day co-ordinators, socials

Thank you to all for standing again and we look forward to another successful season with pre-season planning underway!

Other AGM news

Following a review we have appointed our long term sponsor and supporter Eighteen Hockey as our new THC Kit Supplier for 2025-26 onwards – look our for more news about this exciting new partnership and the opportunity to get involved in a kit forum on Monday 2nd June to help input to fabric and kit design. The EV2 Shop has now shut – look out for more news this week !

New Adult Hockey Annual Fee to be added to TSC Subs for players aged 18+ to help cover increased costs including new format EH affiliation fees that include player registration and insurance, increased pitch hir costs and other rising costs. The AGM agreed that this was preferable to a significant increase to match fees. More news on this fees for 2025-26 later in the summer.

2025/26 is going to be a big year for TSC as the club has submitted planning permission to extend and improve the clubhouse. This next phase of project 18 will focus on our off pitch facilities following c£500,000 investment in playing facilities over the past five years and will include a refurbishment of the bar area to benefit all. Look out for comms for the return of the Great Timperley (online) Auction that will be back in September as a key fundraiser. We’re looking for a couple of hockey volunteers to help gather donations for auction ’lots’ over the summer- please get in touch if you can help or donate.

Coaching News: Thank you to Ali and Ross

Ali Ghazanfar: Big thanks to Ali who joined us in Summer 2023 as our led Women’s performance and Development Coach and has confirmed he is stepping down from coaching at Timperley. Ali’s had a big impact on setting and development the performance culture ad play for the Performance squads over the past two season and will be missed – as well as leading club coaching and our junior programme of camps. We wish Ali all the best for the future and for his contribution to THC and support. We’re sure we’ll see Ali on the NW hockey circuit, and we’d like to pass on a huge thanks from the club and all the players.

Ross Small: After ten years giving up his Sunday mornings to support junior hockey, Ross Small our Lead Coach on Sunday morning for our Cub/U8 and u10 Coach is handing up his whistle and coaching board from September. Ross has had a terrific impact on so many of our young Blues and many are playing senior hockey for the Performance Squads now and as importantly he’s made hockey a sport so many young players love. Ros has volunteered on Sunday morning since he was in 6th Form and all through university and his teaching career and was recognised by the TSC AGM last year and made a Hockey Vice President for services to the section, including his other roles as captain of M2’s and Mixed XI. Ross will be hugely missed and thank him for all he’s done and hope he enjoys a few Sunday lie in’s from next season !

Summer Hockey

Despite the current rain Summer Hockey goes from strength to strength and big thanks to Kieran, Ross, Leonnie and Sammy for organising summer league our biggest annual fundraiser. Do pop down if you’re not playing to support, umpires and catch up with hockey mates.

On Friday Nights the Club also has a new Food Offer servicing from 6pm to around 8.30pm and a different offer each week from BBQ to Greek to Indian and Pizza.
More summer tournaments to come with the Women’s vets 7’s on 21st June and Mixed 7’s on 5th July. We’re also looking at another couple of tournaments too so watch this space and we’ll be sharing preseason plans in June.

…and finally good luck to the Men’s 1 who are shortlisted for the EH Men’s team of the year award at the EH Awards on 7th June and fingers crossed they can top off their season with this national award.