Roger 'Dodger' Daniels
CHAIRMAN'S
REPORT
End of Season 07/08
Dear Member and Visitor
With the league season now finished we look back on another exciting, successful and eventful year.
Pride of place goes to our Ladies' firsts, who are now promoted to the 2nd tier of English hockey - just one promotion away from the Premier League. Our Men's firsts also successfully consolidated in the first season of South Premier, and find themselves only two promotions off the hockey elite in England.
Elsewhere in the club no side will be relegated. The Men's sixths are promoted and, hopefully, they will be joined by the thirds.
Our Mixed team reached the last 16 of this National knockout competition, but went down 4-3 away to Spencer - so this run is ended. Our Ladies played Holcome in the Kent Cup Final at Canterbury on 18th May. Regrettably they were pipped at the post in a penalty play off. It was a super match, in which Maidstone came back from being 2-0 down at half time to level the scores and force penalties.
Congratulations to everyone for helping the club maintain its success. Players, umpires, coaches, officials, volunteers, and supporters have all played their part.
Maidstone is playing its full part in the implementation of the England Hockey "single system". I am delighted to confirm that Maidstone, in partnership with Sutton Valence club and school, will lead the "Mid Kent" Junior Development Centre - it will start in September 2008 for under 12 and under 13 boys and girls.
The news of our selection as a JDC has now been followed up by the announcement by Kent Hockey Association that Maidstone will also host Kent's one and only Junior Academy Centre. We are thrilled to be honoured with this key hockey development opportunity for the county.
We are already planning for next season with a focus on increasing our membership. With our fantastic facilities and playing range we can accommodate more teams, and the first step is to increase our squad availability. All members can help in a recruitment drive for September. More on this when our wider recruitment strategy is published soon.
If you are a prospective new member, welcome to our website. You will see that Maidstone is a vibrant, successful and sociable club. We run 7 Men's sides, ranging from South Premier to Kent Open Division 4 and include a Veterans' side. Our 4 Ladies' sides range from National League to Kent Open Division 4. Our teams operate on a squad basis, so there is always plenty of opportunity to slot new players in.
We have a strong Junior section, and boys and girls from the age of 5 are always welcome. For parents it will be particularly important to you to know that we are a fully accredited "ClubsFirst" club. This confirms our standing as a child friendly and safe club; most hockey clubs have not yet achieved this status.
We are open to new players and are actively recruiting. Training will resume in July but don't wait until then. If you are interested in playing for Maidstone then please contact me, or the relevant Hockey Manager, now.
If you wish to find out more about our club or wish to hire our fantastic facilities please try the number or email address shown on this site - CONTACTS page - that most closely fits your enquiry. But if you are unsuccessful then ring or preferably email me.
Roger Daniels
Club Chairman.
01622 74371 rsdaniels@btinternet.com
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