Following the relegation of Havant Hockey Club’s 1st XI men’s team from the English Hockey League at the end of last season, the Club’s shake up of the team reported in the last edition of postcode has continued throughout the close season.
New Coach, Ady Adams wish to get the team playing with style and packing a greater goal threat, particularly from short corners looks set to bear fruit. Club President Chris Pickett has worked hard to bring in the players Adams needed. With a goal scorer the priority the Club has completed the signing of former captain of the India national team, Sandeep Singh. Singh has 212 caps for India and was a member of India’s 2012 team at the London Olympics. Sandeep also has a world record drag flick to add to the teams potential for goals from penalty corners! The strengthening of the team has also included the signing of two Polish players. Maciej Janiszewski is an international player and the other Tomasz Nowicki comes as a promising talent. Such significant strengthening of the squad for the challenges that lay ahead in the Clubs quest to regain its National League status is essential with others teams in the league also strengthening their teams. The 2014/15 season holds much promise for those playing for and supporting Havant Hockey Club.
The team got off to a flying start winning its first match in the South Premier Division 1 by 7 – 2 against Lewes at Havant College on 4 October, with new signing Sandeep Singh scoring a hat-trick of penalty corners, Michael Deller-Merricks scored twice, with further goals coming from Oliver Nail, and James Speke.
The Ladies 1st XI has already played three games in the new campaign. After finishing in 6th place in League South Division 1 last season, and with much the same players, the team has made a disappointing start under new manager, Richard Cook, and new coach, Mark Robinson. The Ladies have lost both away games and drawn their only home match. However, the results indicate that the games have been close and that the Ladies are playing an open style, having scored 5 goals and conceded 6.