Week one of the new world of Tier 3 Mark II complete - and who knows maybe in a weeks time we may be heading back into Tier 2. Huge thanks to all players, supporters, coaches, and our trusty Covid Support Teams and Gate Marshalls making last weekends Return to Hockey go so well. Lets keep up the social distancing, following the rule of 6 and keeping hockey and all visitors to the club safe.

We go again this weekend with 7 home games 5 away game (remember no car sharing allowed outside of your household/bubble !). Takeaway drinks (non alcoholic!) and snack service from the decking(Sat and Sun) and Bar Menu available 9am - 2pm Saturday (option to order / pay before you play and pick up later).

Why so much hockey .........
You maybe wondering why so much hockey if being offered? The simply answer is to offer everyone who wants to get out, have some team based exercise and social contact a range of ways to play. Even if we go back into Tier 2 opportunities will still be limited to get out and about and if we follow the guidance hockey provides a safe space to get out and active. The wider health and well being benefits of being with your #hockeyfamily are even more important than ever.

League hockey as we know it will be back in time - but for now lets just enjoy the joy of hockey and the opportunity over the festive period to play with different people in different formats ! We've another busy weekend ahead with games for ..... Ladies 1-6, Mens 2-4 and 6-7's and Badgers and Beavers A and B. If you're wondering what went on last weekend with lots of goals being scored at Stockport Road take a look at the Men's 6 v Sale 3 Match Report demonstrating that freedom of speech is alive and well at THC along with the beauty of a games seen through the eyes of a left back ! Load up match reports on your team pages on Pitchero !

England Hockey are also due to confirm the way forward for the National League season by the end of next week which will give the 1's clarity on their plans to get back to competitive hockey. We've also got the revised dates for all senior, masters and junior EH Championships rounds and these will be loaded up onto Pitchero shortly.

Inter-club festive 7's starts next Tuesday 15th December for three weeks.
If you fancy playing update your availability on Pitchero - all the fixtures are there under:
Ladies all teams, Men's all teams and Men's Club Sess 20 Teams. Check your schedule on Pitchero and dates / tournaments should be there.

Sign up, join in, you'll be allocated to a team and play. Two sessions (bubbles) per night:
- 7.00pm - 8.15pm (teams drawn from M4-7 and Ladies 4-6 players)
- 8.30pm - 9.45pm (teams drawn from M1-3 and Ladies 1-3 players)

Festive Games on 19th December and 27th December - dates are loaded on Pitchero so please update your availability so we can firm up the format based on numbers. We're looking at a combination of unders and overs, mixed, vets, friends and family teams. Anna Mawby will be updating on plans for the Academy groups on Sunday 20th and Tuesday 22nd December and themes for teams !

The New Year Challenge is on ! - All teams / All Ages v Bowdon 2nd and 3rd January 2020
Bowdon are well up for this weekend of local derby hockey across the full range of teams! We'll be loading up the fixtures this week so do update availability. Bowdon are also keen to make this an annual event and we felt that it would be an ideal opportunity to remember Pat Marston and name the trophy in Pat's memory - he'd have liked nothing more than a bit of Blue v Red friendly rivalry to blow away any NY cobwebs and of course crack open the odd bottle of port or two !

We hope as many players as possible will get behind this weekend challenge series of games and toast in 2021 and a better year.

THC Festive Raffle 2020 - to be drawn at 12noon on 27th December 2020
We hope you'll get behind supporting our big fundraiser to close 2020. We've a target of £1000 in ticket sales and a £1000 match funding from Barclays £4£ community support scheme for grabs to hit £2,000. Its easy to Buy Raffle Tickets online from £5 for 5. We hope every player / family who can will be able to support this important fundraiser. If we can raise £2,000 it will replace what we would have raised at the Dinner and one of our Annual Tournament cancelled due to Covid.

Find out more about the THC Festive Raffle 2020. We'll be aiming to live stream the draw on the Timperley Hockey facebook page.

Thanks to Haroon Bangee for organising the raffle and please contact Haroon, the Academy or Committee if you've anything suitable to donate as a Prize.

Other Parish Notices !
- support the Club Foodbank Collection . Drop off donation in the main entrance until 20th December. All donations much appreciated and help us give a little back to those in need.

- Last day for SilverFX Express orders for Christmas Delivery is 15th December 2020 - Plus there's 15% Discount and free delivery until 31st December . See full details THC kits orders, discount code and links for socks, hats and ties

- TSC Wufflers are selling well so don't miss out pick up from the takeaway point at the club (access from decking) or buy via PayPal - £12

- Out latest block of 10 Fitness Sessions with Rick Poole kicked off this week . £5 per session, come to as many as you like, no need to book. Wednesday's 10 - 11am Green Pitch.

- Captains, coaches, managers, Covid Support Folks - Big thanks to Fozzy who has updated the documents on the Return to Play THC Info Hub - Updated Guidance to reflect the updated Tier 3 EH Guidance including information for visiting teams.

- History of Timperley Ladies Hockey Club - we have a centenary looming for 100 years of ladies hockey at Stockport Road. Gary ' Who do you think you are' Fisher is searching digitised newspaper archives to help us learn more about the history of women's hockey at Timperley. Along with help from the Hockey Museum we've found a Timperley Ladies Team playing in 1912/13 - but not as far as we can see at the Club at Stockport Rd. If any older or former members have any items or information about the long history of ladies hockey at Timperley we'd love to hear from you to help in pulling together a short history. Please contact Shelagh E, Col Taylor, Gary Fisher of any of the ladies.

So overall a pretty quiet week ! All the best to Mens 1s and Friends are doing a 12 mile charity walk for WalkingHomeForChristmas - donate here They've raised £669 so far so follow the link to show your support.

#StaySafe and lets have another safe week's hockey and roll on returning to Tier 2!