1st XI Managers past & present...

 Tony Wormald who was the first ever 1^st XI manager of the Hockey Club from 1974 – 1988, meeting the current manager!

On a recent visit to the sports club, Tony Wormald met with Mikey Holland, both of whom have managed the Men's 1st XI hockey team. 

Tony holds a special place in the club's history as the very first manager of the 1st XI, a role he began in 1975 and continued until 1988!

Tony was at the club to see the new Padel courts, to which he and his wife, Sue, had generously contributed funding. While there, he also took the opportunity to look around the grounds and reflect on memories of how the hockey club was run during the 1970s and 1980s.

Not only was Tony the inaugural 1st XI manager – among the first people in the country to hold such a position – he also served as Ground Manager for the club's five grass pitches, which were widely regarded as the best in the South of England. 

There is little doubt that these outstanding facilities were a major factor in the hockey club's success during the 1980s, when the team achieved five promotions in seven years and went on to become a founding member of the Men's Premier League in the 1988/89 season. Playing all their home league matches on such high-quality pitches gave the club a significant advantage.

Tony dedicated hundreds of volunteer hours to the club, and his contribution has left a lasting legacy. 

It was wonderful to welcome Tony and Sue back to see the new facilities, and the club looks forward to seeing them again soon. 

The hockey section remains deeply grateful for the support and dedication they gave all those years ago.