A Big Welcome

And a Sad Goodbye

Comment from the EditorI hope you have all had a relaxing and rejuvenating Christmas break. Well it’s Half time - So are you ready for the team talks? To keep in the Christmas spirit the captains were asked to set their report to a Christmas tune and I think they rose to the challenge extremely well. In true Christmas spirit we also have the Chairs speech –do I detect a similarity to that of the Queens? As always this club is all about cultivating talent and so I am pleased to include a piece from our very own poet laureate. There are more dates for your diary and photos from other hockey club events. So eyes down....Mandy

From the Chair...By the time you read this Christmas will be well and truly over and you will be looking forward to the next half of the season. I think it's fair to say that the firsts and thirds have had mixed results, whereas the seconds are in a strong position to get promoted this year. Julie Medley had a particularly

nasty accident but in true hockey style, and emulating the GB player Kate Walsh, she was back playing the following week. The Club hopes to run an umpiring course in the New Year so anyone interested should contact their captain. Please make sure you support the social events being organised in January (quiz night) and the end of season in March. And finally don't forget our regular training sessions on Monday evenings which are fun. And oh yes you may learn some new moves.

Julie

To our newbies! - Michelle Billings, Maddie Canon, Faye Carter, Jenni Davis, Shivani Kumar, Rebecca Page, Mandy Putman

and Kerry Walsh. They came.....they saw.....AND still they joined! There’s naught as strange as hockey players....

We hope our newbies enjoy Dartford HC as much as the rest of us. Little do they know that’s it for life! Sarah Edwards and Rose Spencer know.... a big welcome back to them!

Declaring that Cambridge is too far to commute (not that we agreed) Bridget has moved on for new job opportunities. She will be sadly missed both on and off the pitch. But of course Bridget knows that should she venture closer to Dartford.... We wish her well in her new job and good luck at her new club.

The Dartford HC ChronicleJanuary 2013

Membership: We still have members who have yet to complete the Dartford HC membership form this season. Please complete (even if you've done one previously, we only need an electronic copy for members aged over 18) and send to dartfordhockey@googlemail.com. Under 18s will also need to bring a printed form signed by a parent. A printed copy will suffice for anyone without email access, please pass on to your captains to give to the Membership secretary.

Saturday Jan 26th – Quiz Night at HeskethSaturday 23rd March – End of season SocialEaster Weekend – Blackpool Hockey TourWednesday 24th April - AGMMayday Bank Holiday weekend – Walking TourSummer London day out – Date to be confirmed.

Please see your Social Reps for details. They will be hassling you soon enough... Committee Club Rep and 2’s: Jane Cooper 1’s: Trudi TuckerYoung Members Rep: Keeley Wiggett 3’s: Kirsty Payne

Ideas are always sought after for events – so please let the reps know what it is you want.

Dartford went to the Dogs... Again!(How many times can I get away with that line?)

October saw another fundraiser at Crayford Dogs. Support from the club (about 30 people attended) was quite good and resulted in £150 being made. There were a few winners on the Dogs – Keeley Wiggett being the savviest pundit I believe. Thank you to all that supported the event and especially those that brought friends along. It all helps to pay for things like the shirts, keeps our fees down and makes our Treasurer a very happy bunny!

We now have 46 members in our Facebook group and it has helped members stay in touch. It is the source of much amusement and everyone waits impatiently for the Saturday match report. This has been a fantastic resource but as it has evolved the Club has decided to change the privacy

settings on Facebook. It can now only be viewed by Members. We have also compiled a Members User Guide to ensure that the page does not display anything detrimental to the Club. Please read the guide – it can be found on the group page in the files but I have also attached it at the end of the newsletter.

2013 Dates for your

Ker–ching!

Club HoodiesThe order has gone in for the hoodies and we will have them soon after the restart of the season. If you didn’t get your order in don’t worry as I will make another order towards the end of January if it is needed. The Hoodies are grey with a red inner lining to the hood and cost £17.90Green Jackets are also available to order £30.60Ask your captain for details.

Captains Report

Okay now for the fun part.....sing along with your Captains as they report back over the first half of the Season.

Report from the 1’s – to the tune of ‘Jingle Bells’

Half the Seasons goneResults are mixed and toughWe’ve tried hard throughoutWith some games getting rough – ha, ha, ha..

Home games we have wonAways have been hard workPlayers missing here and thereWe’ve had to be alert

Oh Dartford 1’s, Dartford 1’sSo far it’s not all brightBut we don’t let that get us downWe carry on the fight

Oh Dartford 1’s, Dartford 1’sIt’s starting to come goodOh what fun we’re gonna haveWhen the wins come like they should!

Happy New Year Everyone

Dartford 2nd

Team’s report – to the tune of “Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer”

Sarah the 2nd team captainHad a tricky task ahead…..New players and a new formationYou would even say it’s mad….With a squad of 15There’s lots of rolling on and off..But we never let the oppositionTake control of any game…

49 goals for and only 5 againstWe are really looking “reem”Dartford 2nds is it now timeTo fulfil our long awaited dream?Then how the players scored goalsAnd they shouted out with glee10 wins and only 1 loss We’re sitting on the top of the league!!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2013 to everyone!

Sarah

Dartford 3’s - - To the tune of "Let it snow"Started before we played the seconds, so a proper mid- season report

O-lympics bought the thirds new membersNew names and rules to rememberSeason starts, new own goal lawLet us score, Let us score, Let us score,

Battling but we still concedeTactics are what we needResults better, but we'd like a drawLet us score, Let us score, Let us score,

December comes, wet and cold,Injuries now take their tollbottom league, head to head warYes we've scored, and a win, yes we've scored!

Have a fab Xmas and New Year!Kirsty

Ode from a hockey player

Step on the astro and your worries waste away,It’s like the beginning of a whole new day.

The whistle blows and the ball is hit, Even the fans have to stand; it’s impossible to sit.

The clicking of the ball becomes your own heartbeat, You're on a roll when you hear, tweet, tweet.

It’s not against you, but the other team instead, So you wind up for the free hit looking ahead.

You drive the ball with all you've got, Sending it to the circle where your forward takes a shot.

The goalies there to clear it out, From the sidelines we can hear coach shout.

The whistle is blown, Red/Green's Time Out.Walking to the huddle, on every face I see a pout.

Feeling discouraged, and not knowing what to say, I fell silent as coach began with a cliché

You girls can do it, just find it in your heart, We came onto the astro with a very strong start.

Just when you think you've given it your all, Push a little harder when getting the ball.

Let today be the day when you are able to say, I gave it my all every minute I played.

Let this be the moment when you can stand proud, When scoring that goal and hearing the shouts of the crowd.

Leave the troubles of the day behind you, Focus on the players in the red/green.

This is your new family, there to catch you when you fall, To cheer you on, call you out, and pass around the ball.

With every mistake a new lesson is learned, With every success a reward is earned.

Don't be afraid to try your best, Because in the end, that's the greatest success.

Keeley Tyrrell

November Day out. Sad goodbyes to Bridget and big Birthday celebrations for Keeley T and Wendy who hit the big _0 marks (Not telling you which ones!). It was a day for enjoying the views over London whilst enjoying a chat over glass or two.

We started with a very civilised tea party at the Tate modern.

And the Photo Album for this season so far.

Bagpuss, of course came along and enjoyed the views

We stopped off at the Rooftop terrace bar, near St Pauls. Much needed blankets were supplied even with the patio heaters.

And enjoyed the Christmas lights, before going off for a bite to eat.

The Christmas day out was the usual opportunity for the teams to socialise starting with brunch at Charing Cross followed by a glass of mulled wine at Somerset house.

And as always it’s the Editors prerogative to have the last word. The New Year will bring new stories and will hopefully be a good second half for the club. I wish the 2’s continued success in their bid for promotion and the 1’s and 3’s a successful rest of season. The Club would like to wish Sid a speedy recovery from his hip operation. It was lovely to see him before Christmas and we look forward to his return to fitness and umpiring duty. I hope we all have an injury free time and would like to wish Sam Craig all the best with her knee injury. I would also like to wish Julie Hoad, our intrepid Chair, a safe adventure on her annual trek - this time to Kerela, SW India. Happy New Year to everyone and Good Luck with all your ventures whatever they may be in 2013. I hope it’s a vintage year for us all.

Mandy

Dartford Hockey Club Facebook PolicyGuidance for Members of the Facebook group and the use of Facebook

This guidance to help players to use social networking sites in a way that does not conflict with Dartford Hockey Club and England Hockey rules.

All players should follow the following golden rules: • Do not make derogatory comments about players, teams or umpires.• Do not engage in any behaviour that could be considered to be harassment, intimidation, bullying, victimisation, discrimination, etc. • Do not display offensive images or make offensive comments• Do not use official or copyrighted material• Protect your password – do not share it, do not make it easy to guess and change it regularly. Now that the Facebook group is fully private, this is more important.

This guidance applies to personal accounts as well as posts to the Facebook group. Due to changes in Facebook privacy policies and settings, it is possible for wide audiences to see your posts and comment. Personal comments can still cause offence, and if related to hockey you should be cautious that any person or third party may be offended.

All players are expected to meet high standards and are responsible for ensuring that they do not bring discredit on the club. Players disregarding this advice could find themselves facing disciplinary action.

Dartford HC CommitteeOctober 2012