With Storm Bert out of the way we return to better weather and hopefully better results this weekend - we didn't fair too well in the wet and cold last week and big thanks to everyone who played, umpired, ran benches and spectated last weekend and braved the weather!

It's the Men's 1 last home game of 2024 today and it would be great to get a bumper crowd down to close out the first half of the season in what we believe is our best start to the season in recent decades ! 5.30pm at the club and don't miss out ad the M1's are not at home again until 23rd February so lets show our support today! Download today's programme. Jo Royall from Eighteen Hockey is also down with her Pop Up Shops and some super Black Friday bargains today !

Lots of positive news this week across the club with England selections, more investment in the club and the countdown to Christmas and for our sport a fantastic opportunity for more people to be able to watch 'free to view' hockey with England Hockey announcing a new three year deal with Channel 4. We need hockey visible to help the game grow and reach new audiences and showcase the game at its best as we compete with other more visible sports for players of all ages.

Don't forget to get your Christmas Quiz Ticket by Tuesday so we can plan food, teams, seating and make for another fantastic way to start the festive season !

Some of the on pitch highlights from 23rd / 24th November weekend
- Men's 1s dropped first points of season away at Doncaster on Sunday but keep unbeaten record with a 2 - 2 draw and are now 3 points clear at top of table with a 9 goal buffer over 2nd place Leeds with a GD of +29.
- Ladies 1's conceded after 2 mins v Brooky and couldn't find the net and lost 1 - 0 to drop to second in table 1 point behind Brooklands so looks like a lot of cat and mouse at the top for next 13 league games to decide who goes back up to Conference North
- highest score was 4 for the Men's 5's in a 4 - 3 thriller v Horwich
- fastest goals - was 'name withheld' for L4's with a field goal after 4 mins and Ed Lord in M2's with a FG after 6 mins. Be great for players to update their GMS preferences so we can view more names
- total goals scored (senior teams) - down to 13 with 4 games off low scoring games (34 previous week)
- total goals conceded (senior teams) - up to 17 first week conceded more than scored for a while (34 previous)
- seniors won 3, drew 2 and lost 6 games, and 4 postponed (Storm Bert the winner there)
- plus Men's 055 beat Alderley 2-1 in EH Cup Tier 1 with a brace from Albert

Congratulations to Josh and Molly
Fantastic news this week as Josh Higgin and Molly Andrews have been selected for England U18's stepping up from the U16's. This is a huge achievement for both and breaking into the U18's isn't easy. Both have grown terrifically as player in the past 12 - 24 months in all aspects of their approach to hockey on and off the pitch and its great to see them getting the chance to represent England at U18's. Josh and Molly are also not only flying the flag for the North but also that players from non hockey playing State Schools can also get selected.

Josh and Molly are joined by six other players from the Timperley Talent Academy and congratulations to Rob Turner, who leads our Eh Talent Academy, and coaches, as this is a real step forward to have so many players selected. Congratulations to: Finn. Toby, Harry, Eden, Freddie and Noah

See full details of players selected. https://www.englandhockey.co.uk/international/england-age-group-programme

Lighting Up the Blue Pitch
More good news, this week the TSC Board signed off converting the Blue Pitch lights to LED - this is not only better for the environment but will reduce our running costs during what are challenging times. This is part of Phase 2 of the Blue Pitch Project, that includes: goal storage, further improvement for spectators and fencing, shows the Club's commitment to improving our facilities and continuing to run our shared facilities in a sustainable way.

Hockey has donated £4,500 to the project (linked to the 500 Lux) and this money comes from our Blue Pitch fund that everyone has supported so well over the past couple of years. We donated £7,000 in August 2023 to fund the dugouts and £500 to the Summer fundraiser. This marks out latest contribution to pitch development. So if you've been to 1's matches and donated on the gate this is a great example of what the £2's go towards, monies raised at last seasons socials and dinner also go to hockey's facility development fund. A big thank you to everyone who donates each game, buys raffle tickets, comes to the dinner and more - it really does make a difference. We are continuing to fundraise towards Club developments as we aim to complete works on the Blue Pitch.

EH and Channel 4 three year deal
We all know how few opportunities there are to watch hockey on free to view - with a new deal EH has signed with Channel 4 as its broadcast partner that's about to change. Please help promote this by sharing social media content and promoting and then when games are on (or after on digital platforms) get watching so we can show Channel 4 that people want to watch hockey and theirs an passionate audience out there who wants to watch hockey. Neutral International Pro Leagues games will also be available

The FIH Hockey Pro League action begins on 1 December 2024, when the England women face Olympic silver medallists China at 11.30am GMT, while the England men’s team kick off their campaign in Argentina from 11–15 December, with matches against Argentina and Ireland. Great for players of all ages to watch but especially our young Blues

You can watch all the England team action on Channel 4 Sport YouTube channel and follow the results on digital channels. Watch from 1st December - here's the link to Channel 4 Sport You Tube account - get watching lets boost the viewing figures https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Xcb9A8O1dk

https://www.englandhockey.co.uk/media/news/channel-4-announced-as-england-hockey-s-broadcast-partner

Young Blues hit the Boards !
We'd love to play more indoor hockey a great version of the game but we're so challenged in the NW for facilities and more importantly that challenges of just trying to hire whole sports halls for a few weeks a year. Not deterred we're committed to giving our juniors the chance to play and be introduced to indoor and big thanks to all who've made this possible - coaches, managers and parents.

Over the next few weekends we have four teams entered into the EH Super 6's North West Tournaments who are playing for a place at National Finals so good luck to our boys and girls Under 16's and Under 18's

Diary Dates !

Saturday 30th November - Eighteen Hockey Pop Up 'Black Friday' Shop from 12noon at the club plus we've our last M1's league game of 2024 at 5.30pm v Durham University

Saturday 7th December -THC Christmas Social - Quiz, Curry and Karaoke ! - click the link more details and to buy tickets

Saturday 21st December - TSC Christmas Party, Tombola, Xmas 300 Club and family activities

Finally this week, we wish a speedy recovery to Luke Davies-Foo who broke his collar bone playing M2's last weekend and to Malcolm Tucker who is recuperating at home now after his operation.