Change is coming to St Neots Hockey Club, and we’d love you to be a part of it. It doesn’t matter if you’ve never picked up a hockey stick in your life or have twenty years’ playing experience, you’ll always be welcome here.

 

We started in 1898, when a group of ladies formed the Eaton Socon Hockey Club. They were so good they were nicknamed The “Invincibles” (a tradition we have continued, for example our Ladies 2nds won promotion for the third year in a row with a goal difference of 61 last season). Soon, a men’s team joined them and we’ve continued playing, wars permitting, ever since. We now have five ladies’ and four men’s teams, plus a Junior Academy (100 juniors aged 6 to 14). Our club has been growing steadily and we’re going to join a whole different league this season: the East Division. Our top two men’s and ladies’ teams train together with a new team of coaches, as do our 3rds and 4ths. The Ladies’ 5ths is new this season and will play in the Five Counties League.

 

We train twice a week at Longsands Academy – in fact we have associations with several schools, both state and independent – with a team of qualified, experienced coaches. The Juniors play in tournaments all year round (our Under 16s were runners up in the National Championships this summer) and train on Sunday mornings. Then there’s Friday Night Lights (mixed hockey fun for ALL abilities: just turn up and play). There are also club family holidays (we take fun seriously!), social adult tours and awards nights. Many of our players play for their county and at performance level, and last season saw our first Invincible play for England. Oh, and we also train goalies... and even umpires!

 

Our Men’s 1st team enjoyed another great season and are looking to surpass last year’s successes, especially as we have several new exciting youngsters coming through from the Academy, plus a new coaching setup focusing on fitness and eyeing promotion. Our Ladies’ 1st will continue building on their last two seasons’ work (going from another promotion to finishing a respectable mid-table), as they fashion a team around an experienced core of players (including our England player), boosted by more young, hungry players joining the senior teams.

 

 But we are still always looking for new ideas, talent and experience. The great thing about the East Division is that players can play up and down between teams throughout the season, which enhances competition for places while allowing all players to find their true level, without worrying about any league-imposed appearance limits.

 

So if you fancy getting fit (pre-season fitness starts at the end of June), trying something new or want to play for a club that aspires to reach the highest levels, call The Invincibles as we celebrate our 121st birthday:

 

Men’s Club Captain: Bradley Forsdick (Bdforsdick@gmail.com  • (07506344053)

 

Ladies’ Club Captain: Fiona Humphrey (fiona.humphrey@hotmail.co.uk  • (07970 903564)