Hockey

Alas, 'twas not to be. (Apr.2007)
Our galant Northern Ladies put in a great performance in the Lancashire Cup Final, against a Wigan team two divisions above us, but in the end were undone by more organised and fitter opponents.
Northern began well, playing some brilliant hockey, and deservedly took the lead after 20 minutes. But Wigan rallied, and netted three times in quick succession, all from corners, to lead 3-1 at the break. Northern fought back bravely in the second half, but were thwarted by Wigan's keeper, who played a blinder. However it was Wigan who completed the scoring with a penalty flick, as Northern's efforts finally ran out of steam, to give a closely fought encounter a rather skewed scoreline.

Ladies in trim for Lancs Cup Final. (Apr.2007)
Northern Hockey Ladies 1st team
There is no end-of-season break yet for our ladies 1st.XI, who have a big date on Saturday 21st.April with Wigan in the Lancashire Cup Final. The match is at Liverpool College, with a 12:15pm start, supporters welcome, so get along and give the girls a cheer if you can.

England Hockey Official Club-School Links. (Apr.2007)
We now have two England Hockey Club-School Link Agreements (PESSCL). One is with Chesterfield High Sports College (Penni Allen) and one with St Ambrose Barlow (Rosie Almond), signed by Amanda Partington, England Hockey's National Development Manager for Education and Schools. This is a Phase One Link Agreement and we are already well on our way to achieving Phase Two.

Consequently, Northern will now be awarded CSL funding as a tool for developing hockey in the school sport partnerships.

End-of-season Dinner. (Mar.2007)
The end of the season's league fixtures signalled the annual dinner. 3rd Team captain Guy Pattison (below right) produced the Speech of the Night, narrowly pipping ladies captain Nikki Johnson (below centre) on poise and delivery.
In his absence on holiday, Ian Douglas’ forthright analysis of the Beavers season was delivered by Peter Fogden (above left), who also presented the team’s player of the season Thomas Collins with his award. Alex Anderson (left) received a richly deserved accolade for services to the section.
William Gregg (above left), who has now broken through to representative level with Lancashire and the North of England, received the young player’s award. Tom Pfeiffer (above right) was again top scorer.

Junior hockey end-of-season dates. (Mar.2007)
There is no junior training on Sunday 18th March, as we have an u11's mixed tournament being held in the morning due to Mothers Day.
This season's final junior training session will be on the following Sunday 25th March, and will only be on for young ones at 10:30am, as there is an U13 Boys and U13 girls tournament being held at 12.30pm at Northern. The boys U13 team will give priority to boys who have trained regularly on Sundays, but have not yet moved up to competitive Saturday hockey.
The extra date for U11's, a tournament on Sunday 29th April at Oxton, has unfortunately had to be cancelled, due to clashes with other tournaments.

Re-arranged fixture. (Feb.2007)
The Men's 1st.XI fixture, cancelled on 3rd Feb vs Liverpool Sefton due to a frozen pitch, will now be re-played at Liverpool Sefton on Sunday 25th Feb.

Ladies through to Lancs Final. (Feb.2007)
A big 'Well Done' to our Ladies 1sts, who won through their Lancashire Cup Semi Final on Sunday 4th February, in a tough local derby against Formby. Northern rattled up a 3-0 victory margin against our Formby neighbours, and now face another tough challenge from Wigan, who are two divisions above us, in the Lancashire Cup Final on Saturday 21st April.

Northern took the lead in Sunday's clash through Di Bonney, after sustained pressure from Northern, with Formby’s goalkeeper making some excellent saves. Northern played well as a team, with outstanding performances from Rachael Strong and Jane Kent. The second half saw Kent flick the ball past the keeper for the second. Formby tried hard, but Northern proved to be too strong for them, and Bonney completed a fine weekend by scoring the third goal.

The previous day, a Bonney hatrick had helped Northern maintain their good season in the top half of the North West Feeder League, with a 7-1 trouncing of Oldham. Two goals from kath Thow, and one each from Jacks and Young completed the scoring.

Changes to Merseyside junior hockey dates. (Jan.2007)
There are major changes to the junior Hockey Development league for Merseyside (to the dates originally posted in September) due to clashes with county fixtures etc. The Merseyside Sports Partnership schedule of events for this season is now as below. Each of these is an individual tournament, not a league.
U15 Girls was on 4th Feb, now changed to Sun 1st April at Formby.
U11's mixed was on 4th Mar, now changed to Sun 18th Mar (Mothers Day) at Northern 9.30 till noon - junior training will not place. Early time so kids can do lunch out with mums!
U13 Girls was on 1st April, now it will be just a game versus Oxton on sun 25th Mar at Northern.
U15 Boys and U15 girls Tournament is Sun 20th May at I.M.Marsh.

15th October

U13 Girls

12th November

U15 Girls

19th November

U11 Mixed

26th November

U13 Girls

3rd December

U15 Girls

18th March

U11 Mixed

25th March

U13 Boys and U13 Girls

1st April

U15 Girls

29th April

U11 Mixed

20th May

U15 Boys and Girls Championship Tournament

Change of Fixtures. (Nov.2006)
18th November Mens 2nd vs. West Derby will now be played at Northern starting at 1.30pm (Beavers fixture moved away so spare slot at Northern thus saving an external pitch booking)
Beavers vs. Chester will now be played at Chester starting at 3.30pm (confusion over home/away – decided to switch fixture our end)
25th November Beavers vs. Bowdon will now be played at 3pm instead of 12pm. No change of venue as the game is still at Litherland. (Bowdon unable to raise a team for earlier start time)
2nd December The Ladies 1st XI game has been cancelled. Mens 2nd XI vs. Blackburn 1st XI is now at Northern at 12pm. Beavers vs. Alderley Edge is now at Northern at 1.30pm instead of Northern at 12pm.
7th January The Beavers game scheduled to be played on Saturday 6th January at Northern vs. Blackpool will now be played on Sunday 7th January at Northern, starting at 1pm.
20th January Ladies 2nd vs. Formby is at Litherland starting at 12pm (error in original book).
The Badgers/Beavers venues are reversed, should read Badgers (away) vs. Neston, Beavers (home) vs. Neston.
3rd March Beavers vs. Chester will now be played at Litherland Sports Centre starting at 1.30pm (confusion over home/away, return fixture from 18th Nov).

One Weekend - Two Sports Do's. (Nov.2006)
On Saturday 18th November, the Hockey and Cricket sections go head to head in running a Darts and Poker Night. The evening will feature Knockout Darts, the 'One Minute Challenge' and Texas Hold em. All welcome, so why not come along and join in?

The previous evening, on Friday 17th November, the Squash section are staging a Football Quiz. To enter your team of five, see the list on the noticeboard or contact the organiser Mark Harrop. There will be cash prizes for the winners, with entry of £25 per team of five.

Northern ace launches bus project. (Oct.2006)
Northern hockey starlet Alice Williamson made a celebrity appearance at the launch of Everton's new Healthy Schools bus initiative. Alice, an avid Evertonian who is also a star of the junior soccer leagues, is pictured passing on a few tips to an aspiring young footballer with hopes of making it in the big-time.

Training goes floodlit at Litherland. (Oct.2006)
Hockey Training is now under lights, Tuesday nights 8.00pm to 9.30pm. At the new Litherland Sports Park complex, just off Dunnings Bridge Road, by Bootle golf course turn-off into Boundary Road, towards Sterrix Lane.

Junior Coaching restarts Sunday 10th Sept. (Aug.2006)
Junior sessions for season 2006-7 are restarting for the autumn on Sunday 10th September, with introductory sessions running from 10:30am to 11:30am. Girls sessions at a more advanced level will also run from 10:30am to 11:30am.
Boys at a more advanced level will be notified, and their sessions will run from 11:30am to 12:30pm, along with Badgers and Beavers squad practice.

Early pre-season news. (Aug.2006)
Hockey Training for Men’s and Ladies teams, and also any badgers who would like to attend, is running again on Tuesday nights 6.30pm until about 8.30pm at Northern - £2 per head.  This will move to Litherland Sports Park from the first Tuesday in October, as that pitch is floodlit.
Fixtures books for 2006-2007 will be available from the bar from around 15.Aug.

Who is Forbes Leishman? (Jul.2006)
The Forbes Leishman Trophy is awarded at each AGM to the club top scorer. In recent seasons it has been awarded annually to a member of the Pfeiffer family. But who knows the derivation of the trophy?
Writes our hockey historian David Lewis, 'Forbes Leishman, a dour but extremely likeable Scotsman, came to Liverpool in the early eighties to practice as a children's orthodontist in Rodney Street, and set up home in Agnes Road, Crosby, with his wife Sheila and two sons. Joining Northern Hockey, he regularly played in goal, mostly for the 4th team and also the veterans' Sunday side. In the 1986/87 season he was elected 4th team captain. A few years later he and the family emigrated to Auckland, NZ, where he still resides (now aged 65). When he left, he donated the trophy to the Club as a token of his appreciation.'

Northern pick up the Silverware. (Jun.2006)
On Wednesday 7th June a number of the Hockey committee attended the North West Hockey League AGM in Warrington. At the meeting the league presented first team captain Anthony Symondson (right) with the Division 1 trophy and second team captain Tom Pfeiffer (left) with the Division 6 North trophy.
Northern have drawn Formby in the 1st round of the Lancashire Cup, which is due to be played at Northern on Sunday 19th November. The first team have had their place in the North League, Division 2 West confirmed for next season, which puts them in the same division as Formby’s 2nd team and should make for some good hockey next season. The 2nd team will be playing in Division 5 North and the 3rd team in Division 8 North of the North West Hockey league.
The first of four Men’s friendly fixtures commence on Saturday 2nd September with the league starting on Saturday September 30th. More detailed schedules will be available in the next few weeks. Summer training will also be arranged soon and all players will be notified.

Confirmations of men's league status. (May.2006)
We have received confirmation from the North West Hockey League regarding promotion and relegation for next year. The 2nd XI have been granted promotion into North West Division 5 North as expected, and the 3rd XI have happily retained a place in North West Division 8 North with only one team going down.
Also confirmed is our promotion of the 1st XI into the North Hockey League, where we will be moving up to Division 2 West.
Anthony Symondson and Tom Pfeiffer will be attending the North West Hockey League AGM on 7th June to collect the Division 1 and Division 6 North trophies that will shortly be on display at the club.

North West Hockey League 2005-6 Division One