ANOTHER BIG BLOW
In the 100th edition of this column (four of them kindly written by Will Main earlier this season) I am very sorry to record that following closely on the retirement of manager Robert Stimpson the Men's 1sts has suffered another big blow with the news that Richard Gill has, coincidentally, also decided to call it a day. Since returning to the club five seasons ago Richard has been a tower of strength in the middle of the defence and he will be badly missed as the team strives to regain its national league status. Richard played for Norwich School and Norwich Union – the latter alongside his father David and uncle John Morgan - before joining Magpies in 1996. He played for the club in the national league during his gap year (making his debut in the home 3-0 win over Warrington in September 1996) and for one season while at Leeds University. He then played for Doncaster in the national league for two years before having a year in the Premier Division with Southgate with ex-Magpie colleagues Tristan Baynes and Anthony Falkus. He returned to Magpies for two seasons before rejoining Doncaster, for whom in his two spells he played over 100 national league matches. On his second return to HMHC he helped the club to twice win the East League with automatic promotion back to the national league coming in March 2009 after failure in the play-offs at Cannock the previous year necessitated by the reduction of teams in the national league.
Richard has set a fine example with his commitment to training, consequent fitness, skills (defensive and attacking) and determination on the field – the latter bringing him the occasional card or two! He has been the sort of player you want on your side for these qualities – excluding, perhaps, the cards! I put Richard in the top ten players I've seen play for Magpies down the years and he ranks Kwan Browne, who he played alongside for English Universities, the best player he has played against for Magpies, matching the high regard of Robert Stimpson for the Canterbury player.
During his long career Richard, who is a senior tax manager with Aviva, has had the full support of Caroline who will now expect him to cut their lawns! The good news is that Richard is not getting rid of his hockey kit so we might see him play the occasional games for one of the club's other teams next season.
Clubhouse management
I am also sorry to report that following on from his retirement as Men's 1st team manager Robert Stimpson has also decided to stand down as clubhouse manager with effect from the end of this month. Robert has done a first class job since he came forward to take on the job six years ago while I was club chairman and I have been grateful to him ever since – as I know all other members have been. Thank you Robert for your conscientious and efficient service to the club in this important role.
Senior Teams Awards Evening. I remind all members, coaches, managers and supporters that they are invited to attend this informal and inaugural event in the clubhouse at 7.00pm on Friday 13 April when the Player of the Year and Leading Goalscorer of the various teams will be rewarded.
Last Saturday saw seven of our teams playing their last matches of the season with the Girls Development leading the way at Weybread with a 2-0 win over Dereham. This rounded off another excellent season for the squad. Next up were the Ladies' 4ths playing Watton 2nds and both needed to win to avoid relegation with Watton having been beaten by Evergreens in their other outstanding match. So it was a tense encounter felt on both sides of the fence and relieved somewhat for Magpies when Laura Schultheiss put them ahead following an outrageous dummy! Tension returned in full when Watton equalised just before half time before victory was gained with a typical and late penalty corner strike by Sarah Legg. Well done to skipper Katie Devereux and her team and to club chairman Mark Legg for his coaching during the last month which has seen the team gain three vital successive wins.
Meantime on the other pitch the Men's 2nds were gaining their first victory since 14 January when they overcame Ramgarhia 6-3. Magpies took full advantage of the visitors playing for much of the first half with only nine men and were 5-1 up at the break through Robbie Kinsella (2), Mitchell Tompkins (his first goal for the team), Lawrence Baynes and Ben Wright with Ben adding a second after half time. The MOTM award deservedly went to Ewan Cumming who had the game of his life on the left side of defence edging out (in my view) James Lane, who in a quality match (during which it was good to see Giles Flatt make his second team debut) was the busier goalkeeper, and Richard Larkin. The Men's 6ths then rounded off a good afternoon at Weybread with a 3-0 win over Dereham 5ths with all three goals coming from Jack Frere-Smith.
Away from home and with their league positions already secure the Ladies' 6ths went down 3-1 to Norwich Dragons 4ths and the Men's 4ths lost 4-2 against Dereham 3rds while the Men's 3rds last chance of promotion in an excellent season went with a combination of them losing 3-2 to Dereham 2nds and close rivals Sudbury winning.
Other news and comments in brief
a) Congratulations to Rhodri Furlong who has been selected to play for Wales U16s in matches against Scotland over Easter and in the UK School Games at Old Loughtonians in May. In the latter he will come up against Magpies' 1st team colleague Elliot Smith.
b) It is thanks to George Hunter and Phil Cobbald for the work they are doing on the grounds in readiness for the May Day weekend tournament.
c) It is also thanks to the two 1st teams, the Men's 7ths, the youth teams and the Ladies' 2nds and 4ths for their regular match reports on the website - with a special 'thank you' to Kay Dennis for her 4th team reports posted each week on the day of the match.
d) In the last two league matches of the season the Men's 5ths entertain North Walsham this Thursday (7.45) and the Men's 7ths are away to Bury St Edmunds 3rds on Saturday 14 April (10.30).
e) Please let me know if you have lost a small silver case containing some Nintendo games.
With kind regards
Mike Denham
3/4/12
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