Hockey Beavers team line up. (Feb. 2006) The Beavers Under 14 squad line up for their half-time team talk, on their way to a 3-1 victory over Southport, under the guidance of Ian Douglas (left) and Peter Fogden (right). The Lads organise Texas Poker Do. (Jan. 2006) The lads got together, with a good evening on the cards. Looks like the poker faces slipped a tad after a pint or two. The winner was Brendan McVeigh, a non-playing hustler mate of everyone. Sounds like the lads should stick to the hockey and leave the poker to the outsiders? Phil Moody's mid-term report. (Feb.2006) Men's chairman Phil Moody reports on a successful season so far, and looks forward optimistically to a title run-in over the final couple of months. After the club's successes in the summer, let's all hope that Northern have another Championship to celebrate this winter. I would just like to use this opportunity, early in the new year to touch upon how the section is doing as a whole. I would also like to reflect on how we did in the past year and what it brought us in terms of hockey. After a very good pre-season, in which we saw good turnouts at summer training sessions run by Eddy Symondson, the three men’s teams had a good platform on which to start their season. For our team captains it has been a good first half of the season and all of them have coped well with the trials and tribulations that the job involves. It was especially difficult as all three or our captains are new to the role. So it is with pleasure that I say thanks and well done to Anthony, Tom and Guy for their efforts. The first team currently lie top of Div 1 with a healthy lead, having lost only once and drawing only once so far. This should almost certainly mean promotion, however there are still a lot of tough fixtures to play. Hopefully with continued hard work we will see the team crowned as champions and handed promotion. Our second team have acquitted themselves well under Tom Pfeiffer’s leadership. The team has enjoyed some vintage hockey once again this season. They should hopefully find themselves in a promotion place too, if they can keep winning the remaining games of the season. I know this would be a great achievement and I sincerely hope it is achieved. The third team have not done as well as they might have hoped early on in the season. Having struggled in some weeks to have a full strength team, some games have been difficult. However, they have put a lot of effort into each game and considering a good number of the team are new to senior hockey I see no reason for them not succeeding in future campaigns. During the season the indoor training sessions have been of benefit to all those that have attended. I do appreciate the fact that we need to train outdoors, with some luck this situation will improve in the near future. In the meantime the indoor training facilities are more than adequate for fitness purposes and keeping in good playing condition throughout the season. For our junior section there have been positive signs of improvement. Again we have had healthy numbers of both boys and girls attending every Sunday morning. This year though they have benefited from the increased involvement of the adult players. I can only say a big thank you to those who have given up their time to attend the sessions. I know not everyone can make it due to other commitments but this time is greatly appreciated. I hope we see continued support from everyone in this matter as it is vital to the younger players. They must be able learn from people who already play the sport at a good standard if they are to improve themselves. The junior development league which was held at Northern in October was a great success. It showcased the young talent we have at the club and was enjoyed thoroughly by all participants. I hope we are involved in more such days in the future. This only leaves me with the social aspects of the section to report on. Last week saw the first of and hopefully many poker tournaments. It was a night enjoyed by about twenty members of the men’s section who all enjoyed a game of cards and a laugh at the club. I would like to think that we can make many other nights a success on a more regular basis. It was good for team spirit and the bar!! Please take a look at some of the photos of the night and also look out for the Northern Club in a soon to be published hockey magazine called PUSH – details to be advertised Soon! I wish everyone good luck for the remainder of the season and hopefully we will have lots to celebrate!! Regards Moods Next round of junior hockey Development League matches. (Jan.2006) The next round of matches in the Merseyside Hockey Development League is scheduled for Sunday 12th February at Sutton Leisure Centre in St Helens. Times to follow. Hockey Social on Saturday 28.Jan. (Jan.2006) Hockey Section Games Evening - Texas hold'em poker tournament - £5.00 entrance - starting at 6:30pm-7:00pm - all club members welcome. Hockey Welcomes New Sponsor. (Jan.2006) We are pleased to announce that astroturf maintenance company Technical Surfaces have agreed to join us as sponsors of the hockey section. Technical Surfaces now become a hockey tracksuit sponsor and shirt sponsor for the Under 12's, and their company banner will be displayed at the perimeter of the astro. Technical Surfaces provide our regular astro maintenance, and successfully carried out the recent major renovation of the playing surface. Junior Coaching Christmas Break. (Jan.2006) The Sunday morning coaching sessions have now resumed after the New Year, recommencing from Sunday 8th January 2006. Northern host junior hockey Development League. (Oct.2005) The club was awash with young hockey enthusiasts on Sunday 16th October, as the first phase of this year's Merseyside Hockey Development League took place at the club. The matches, which are run on a 'round robin' league basis across various Sundays through the season, feature mixed Under 11s, plus U13 girls and U13 boys teams. Clubs represented are Northern, Formby, Southport, Prescot, Liverpool, Oxton and Bidston. One of the club's two teams entered at U11 level, Northern Stars (pictured above) made an excellent start to their campaign, winning 3 of their 4 opening matches. Action from their closely fought encounter with Liverpool, which Northern won 1-0, as (right) a Star striker expertly slips the ball under the advancing keeper for our winning goal. Below, Northern mount another attack. Our other Under 11 entrants, Northern Lightning, are pictured (right), and displaying some resolute defence (below) in their game against Liverpool. Expertly coached by Sven McBrien. Also in action were boys and girls at Under 13 level. Below, our two Northern girls U13 teams clash. The competition is being organised by Melinda James, Merseyside Hockey Development Officer. The next round of matches is scheduled for 4th December at Oxton Hockey Club. Training update - men's indoors. (Oct. 2005) The men's training sessions will now be held at Chesterfield High School. We are training indoors from 9pm until 10pm every Tuesday evening. There is a £2 charge for each player and all newcomers are welcome. The rota for junior training is now on the notice board. Dates for Rejuvenation of Astro. (Aug. 2005) The major maintenance work, to rejuvenate the astro pitch, is being carried out on Thursday 25th to Tuesday 30th August. It should not be used for a week afterwards, so please do not use it for training until the week starting 5th September (although we have fixtures on the 3rd or 4th). Be aware (and warn oppositions) that sand levels will be not be accurate until the pitch has settled, been checked and appropriate sand re-applied. Training update. (Jul. 2005) Men's training has begun and is in full flow. It starts at 6.30pm on Wednesdays at the club. We've had good attendance but would like to see everyone there, every week!  Ladies training has also begun, and is on Tuesdays, also at 6.30pm at the club. From October the ladies switch to Ormskirk School from 8pm to 9pm on Tuesdays. We will welcome any new players of any ability. In particular, any men's goal keepers will be appreciated greatly. Junior Coaching Sessions. (Jul. 2005) This year's junior sessions are due to restart from Sunday 18th September, beginning at 10.30am. We are in the process of setting up this year's rota and structure of the junior sessions. Watch this space for further details. Men's Winter Training. (Jul. 2005) It has been suggested that the Men's section will try and find a suitable indoor training location through the winter and not use Edge Hill. Due to both the location and the pitch time we are allocated at Edge Hill, there has been very poor turnout in recent years and we think it would be better to run a fitness session on Wednesday nights followed by a monthly training session on a Sunday at Northern. More information will follow once a location has been found. Men's Summer Training. (Jul. 2005) Summer training has started and runs every Wednesday at 6.30pm on the astroturf at Northern. Any player expecting to play in the Men's teams next year is also expected to attend training unless they inform their captain beforehand of their reasons for absence. A register is being kept of training attendance and it is likely that this will be used during team selection once the season begins. Badgers players who would like to be involved or who have played in the Men's teams last year are extremely welcome. You must remember that this is Men's training but any Badger who wishes to make the effort will be made more than welcome. Eddy Symondson has made a commitment to run training and has some good ideas that should make things a little different. Please give Eddy all the encouragement he deserves as this is not an easy job to do. The session normally runs for around two hours and includes some stick skills, fitness and usually a short game at the end. The session costs £2 and that money is being put towards providing funding for winter training. There will be a gap in summer training for the last two weeks in July and first week in August whilst the astroturf is re-laid. We will continue training at Northern with a fitness session during this time. New Men's Chairman's Letter to All Members. (Jul. 2005) I would like to use this letter as a way for me to say hello to the section as the new chairman and to also welcome in the new season. I would like to say thanks to Tim Morris for his good work in the last two years and I hope to carry on in his footsteps. Last season saw some very enjoyable hockey and some frustrating hockey also. After promotion to division 9 south, we saw Paul Baines' 3rd team gain promotion again which is a wonderful achievement that I hope can be repeated this season. The second team showed how much they have improved in finishing 3rd in a strong league having played some quality stuff. It is the first team this time round that didn't live up to expectations. A mid-table finish, you will all agree, is not good enough considering the talent there is in the side. It is a problem with discipline and fitness that let the second half of the season down. I hope that we can rectify these problems this season. For the forthcoming season I would like to welcome in the new team captains; Anthony Symondson (1st XI), Thomas Pfeiffer (2nd XI) and Dejan Levi and Guy Pattison (3rd XI). Not forgetting Rob Weir and lan Douglas who I hope will continue with their fantastic work in running the Badgers and Beavers sides. I wish all the captains the best of luck in their jobs. The first piece of news I should talk about is the plans being put into place for the remainder of the summer and the training schedule that entails. Summer training has started (see attached bulletin) and will continue at Northern until we lose the light. The training sessions are being organised by Eddy Symondson. It is important to see a good turnout, as there will be greater competition for places this season. Friendly fixtures start in September and thanks go to Alan Newport for organising them once again. 3rd Sept v Prescot, 10th Sept v Southport, 17th Sept v Mossley Hill, 24th Sept v West Derby, 25th September (Sunday) v Preston (1st XI Lancashire Cup R1). With regards to junior training, I hope it can continue strongly, despite the news that lan Douglas will no longer be taking the sessions during the winter. I am sure the section as a whole will join me in saying a big thanks to lan for all the time and effort he has put into this part of the section. As a result I hope we can still rely on Alex and the other senior players to keep it progressing well. This season I am glad the section is gaining some new players. With our contacts at John Moore's University we have managed to secure the services of three players, including a goalkeeper, who will hopefully strengthen the 1st XI squad. At the same time however, we are losing three players. So I say thanks to Paul Murthwaite, Andrew Beeching and Richard Beeching. I hope we will see them back at Northern in the future. This leaves me with some other news and dates that you should put in your diary. During the last two weeks of July and the first week in August the astro-turf will be out of action due to its refurbishment. After this we should have a better quality playing surface for the start of the season. We will be getting new shirts for all three teams this season with the new sponsors logos; Northern Packaging and Abaca Systems. I wish everyone involved with the hockey section the best of luck for the season and I hope we can continue our success on and off the pitch. Phil Moody Hockey Chairman 2005-2007 Lions call-up for young Rob. (Jun. 2005) Great news from Rob Anderson, who has been selected for the UK Lions squad, the unofficial England team at his age. Rob was in the North West Under 13 squad that played in the inter-regional tournament in Beeston (5 games in 2 days in blistering heat), and started each game as first choice right-back, only spending about 30 mins off the pitch across the games. Proud dad Alex takes up the story. 'The NW team actually won the tournament, though they gave the parents a couple of scares! In the semi, they were 2-1 down to Midlands with less than 5 minutes to go, when their star player bulleted two short corners either side of the keeper ... and they drew the final against East before winning on penalties. The best actually came after the event, when the manager confirmed that the co-ordinator of the UK Lions squad had selected 4 NW players for his squad of 24, one of which was Rob. I couldn't believe it!' Hockey stick rule change. (Jun. 2005) The FIH Executive Board has confirmed that in the 2006 Rules of Hockey the depth of the stick bow/rake will be limited to 25mm. All players participating in the EHL Premier 1 (Men & Women) shall from 1st January 2006, be required to use only sticks that comply with the new Rule in all EHL and international hockey competition. All other players in England shall from 1st June 2006 be required to use only sticks that comply with the new Rule.