Club Centenary

Centenary Message from the President

Jim Sainsbury

Chard Hockey Club and the game will have changed immensely in 100 years; in fact it has changed considerably since I first played in the 1960’s. From the early days on Dening’s Field, then on to the tarmac on the Merrifield runway, followed by a return to Chard and a modern Redgra pitch at Holyrood School. This pitch was replaced by the Astroturf and not only hockey changed but so did the club.

From the early days of one mens’, one ladies’ and one mixed team we now run three men’s and three ladies’ sides. The game has changed, no roll-in, no off-side, no bully-off. The equipment has changed, goalkeepers have full protection, sticks are reinforced with all manner of man-made materials.

For Chard Hockey Club the greatest change is the support given to youth hockey by club members, coaching players from under nine to enjoy the competition and camaraderie hockey provides.

The club is indebted to the members who give up valuable time to help run the club, coach the juniors, umpire matches and run the teams. We also appreciate the valuable contributions of our Vice Presidents whose support helps finance the club and enables us to provide the facilities for our youth programme.

In this our Centenary year we hope to bring together as many past players as possible at our annual awards evening in March to share memories of Chard hockey.

Best wishes for the Centenary season and the start of another 100 years of Chard Hockey

Message from the Centenary Co-ordinator

On 12th November 1907, at a meeting held at Press’s Garage, Fore Street, Chard, by unanimous decision of those present, Chard and District Hockey Club was founded. Practices and matches were to take place on Thursday afternoons on part of the cricket field behind The George (now The Phoenix) Hotel. The Club’s first match was played on 3rd January 1908 (postponed from the previous month because of bad weather--they really did get proper winters then) against Ilminster Unitarians.

These and other nuggets of Club history were revealed at the Centenary Dinner and Awards Presentation Evening on 23rd March. Held at the Guildhall, Chard and attended by almost 140 players, former players and their guests, I hope all who were there will agree this was an appropriately memorable event by which to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the launch of our Club.

The date of the inaugural meeting means our centenary straddles this season as well as the last. Launched (and off to a flying start) at the dinner in March, the other major event to mark the occasion is the Centenary Draw. My thanks to everyone who has donated, pledged to donate or obtained prize donations from other sources. If you have not already received tickets, they are available from team captains and other committee members. This is a chance for all of us to play a part in fund raising by selling tickets to family, friends and work colleagues. The draw will take place on Saturday 24th November, so there is no time to lose. Let’s get selling!

Last season got the centenary celebrations off to as great start. Let’s use this one to provide a fantastic finale.

Best wishes
Stephen Mahoney

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