I’m sure, as other clubs will agree with me, there are only the facilities and funding to go so far. This is changing however…

The Men’s Hockey Club have always been strong in numbers, having 4 teams play competitive games on a Wednesday and Saturday - this generally means that there are 50+ boys playing each week. As Club Captain I saw a large number of people turn up to trials really keen to continue/ try hockey for the first team, but unfortunately due the level of hockey within the club there aren’t enough spaces to accommodate everyone. This has traditionally meant a large loss of talent.

This year the Men’s Hockey Club have created a 5th team with great success. This new team has meant that there is space for another 15 people to join the hockey club and actually get game time. The 5th team is coached by the 1st and 2nd team captains and other club volunteers separately on a Sunday evening from 5-6pm. The team is very much a friendly side this season, although the initial success of it shows that entering the team into a competitive BUCS or Hampshire next season is indeed possible.

The effect of the 5th team is all positive; more people now have the chance to play hockey at university, and the extra team raises the overall standard of the lower teams in the club and creates a very social side of hockey.

The team, like all the university squads, has a squad of 15 or so players, and so it’s not as if the captains are struggling to get the team out, it is genuinely a success. The reason as to why it’s a success starts with the committee fully backing the creation of the team, and helping out where ever needed. Our Fixtures Sec Sam Boleat has done a sterling job at organising friendly fixtures against local colleges, club and uni’s, the overall ethos of the club being welcoming. The 5th team has attracted new members that just want to play hockey and perhaps can’t possibly commit to the time required in playing for one of the university sides. The 5th team, although coached at a separate time, is by no means pushed to the side; there is good player fluidity between the 4th and 5th teams, and the 5th team are always out on socials.

The 5th team are playing their 4th fixture this week against the Ladies Club 3rdX, having already played Bournemouth University, Southampton City and Itchen College.

If anyone is interested in playing hockey then please contact me on Op306@soton.ac.uk