Ashford (Middlesex) Hockey Club

We have received this week an excellent, large, free canvas print of the Clubhouse produced by a Company called CanvasRus and you can see examples of their work on http://www.canvasRus.co.uk They provide high quality photo prints on canvas. The picture is the excellent one that Peter Westlake took recently in the snowy weather. The canvas will be put on display for all to see at the weekend.

On behalf of AHC, I am very pleased to report that the Club has been awarded the ‘ClubsFirst’ accreditation by england Hockey and I include below their confirmation received today (4/2/2010). A very large vote of thanks 9and perhaps a few rounds of drinks0, are due to all those who helped with our application, but in particular to SUE WESTLAKE, PETER COTTRELL and GORDON SMITH who really worked long and hard on this. Well done all…..

“It is our great pleasure to inform you that, following an independent Nominated Officer visit and subsequent verification of your club assessment file, Ashford Hockey Club (EH id: 1039) has been recognised as working towards providing a Safe, Effective and Child Friendly club environment, and as such has been awarded the England Hockey ClubsFirst Accreditation. The accreditation date is 03/02/2010.

You will shortly be receiving a confirmation letter and certificate by post, and in the meantime, attached to this email are two files for your club’s use – the ClubsFirst logo and the England Hockey ClubsFirst “brand use” guide.

England Hockey is committed to supporting the development of safe, effective and child-friendly clubs. On behalf of England Hockey I would like to thank you for your club’s dedication in this area.

Congratulations and well done for all of your hard work in submitting the application.”

AHC Newsletter
The AHC Christmas Newsletter has now been e-mailed/posted out to paid up Club members and hopefully will be posted on the website soon. Hard copies are also available at the Clubhouse.
Holiday Opening Times
The Clubhouse and bar will be open from 2 -11 pm on Christmas Eve, so why not come on down for a pre-Christmas drink. The grounds and Clubhouse will be closed on Christmas and Boxing (except for annual Men’s match 12- 2.30 pm) Day, and on Sunday 27th, Monday 28th and Tuesday 29th December. The bar and grounds will reopen as normal at 6pm on Wednesday 30th December and there will be a free New Year’s Eve Social Event from 7pm until late on 31st December, but the Club will be closed on New Year’s Day.

At AHC we are committed to playing hockey the right way and bringing on our colts section to enjoy the game and be safe and happy in the hope that they will become life-long fans of the game and members of our fantastic club. If you or your child have any concerns about inappropriate behaviour by anyone connected or involved with AHC, please initially contact the Child Welfare Officer, Gordon Smith, on 07789 611930. Your concern will be taken seriously and investigated as per England Hockey Child Protection policies.    We will shortly be adding a Colts tab that will contain a wealth of detail about our Colts section, how it is structured, our club ethos and AHC Child Protection policies.                           

AHC are having a CLEAN UP DAY at Short Lane this coming Sunday October 4th from 11 am to 4-5 pm and your help is needed. There are lots of weeding, hedge cutting, grass clearing, painting and litter picking jobs etc., that need doing around all areas of the Short Lane site, buildings and playing areas before winter sets in. There are also plenty of cleaning and repair jobs that need doing within the Clubhouse and changing rooms, as well as some specialist carpentry and welding ones.

We are asking all members and Colts to help out in anyway they can for at least a short while, to help spread the load and spruce the place up for the forthcoming winter season.

Hope to see you there.

Current Men’s training schedule as follows, kids…

Thursday: 7.30-9.00 pm - U16 and U18 Boys and Girls including U14 boys who play for the U16s

 ..also…Tuesdays : 6.30-7.30 for U9, U11 and U14 Boys and Girls 

Men’s starts Tuesday 1 Sep and Ladies 2 Sep - both start 7.30 9 or 9.30 finish 

Last Fitness training session Wed 3 Sep 7pm on the grass - will be doing legs, bums and tums as a special treat!!!!!!!

An opportunity for players - current or new - to come along and sample our facilities and enjoy some social hockey and bbq - start time 12.30 tbc

…out on the grass - see you there!!!…

Arrr avast there me hearties we will be pirating the fields of Short Lane to do pieces of 8 training drills (including the Plank)

Yes…what other 2 words than Fitness Training could set the pulses racing of the elite athletes of Ashford HC! Nominally called Mens Fitness Training - it is open to anyone playing on Saturdays and any new potential players are very welcome - give me (Gordo) a call on 07789 611930.

We start on Wednesdays 6.30 to 7.30 from 24 Jun so aim to get down 10 minutes earlier please.

Current AHC players - get your mates down to this and we will slowly wear their resistance down and get them playing next season.

Mandy (Ladies 1st team coach) starts Ladies Fitness Training on Tuesday 14 July so anyone unable to make Tuesdays can come to the Wednesday one - or come to both if you are masochistically keen!

The bar will be open to help you replenish fluids in any way you see fit!

The Hockey Club Annual General Meeting for 2009 will be held at the Clubhouse at 7.30pm on WEDNESDAY 20th MAY. The Agenda and Minutes from last year’s meeting will be sent out to all paid up members by e-mail in the next week or so. If you have changed your e-mail address or would like to receive a hard copy please let the Club Secretary Phil Worsfold on (secretary@ashfordhockeyclub.co.uk) or Treasurer Doreen Brown (treasurer@ashfordhockeyclub.co.uk) or on 01932 229785 know. Please put the date in your diary and come along if you can as your help is needed and Club Officers and Team Captains for next season are needed.

Draft AHC Recruitment Plan 2009/10 (16/3/09) please contact Lynne Morgan - pressofficer@ashfordhockeyclub.co.uk or Gordon Smith if you wish to help in anyway.

1. Advertise via Company Intranet sites and notice boards – Gordon Smith to contact AHC members by e-mail. Update details regularly (monthly?) and resend to players with Company Intranet.

2. Arrange Leagues and training in the summer to attract new members - make sure we have something for people to attend/do in summer on Wednesdays/Tuesdays from 1st week July onwards.

3. Target Club Day at start of season - advertise locally.

4. Contacts on Home page of website for any activity (so if we don’t have firm details, a prospective new member has someone to contact). Additional website links on Home page such as Gum Tree etc.

5. Advertise for new players on England Hockey website – FREE already done.

6. Get A4/A5 posters produced and out to those who volunteered from section 1 above to put up - and make sure they do it!

7. Distribute advertising material to people who work at a school or college and try to establish firm links.

8. Coaches for Men’s section (similar set up to the Ladies section?) and possibly additional ones for Ladies.

9. Establish University links and recruitment programmes and advertise and visit Fresher’s weeks at local colleges.

10. Brochures/ business cards/mail shots in local papers and bulletin, AHC freebies.

11. Compile a sponsorship portfolio and target more sponsorship.

12. Target ACC members.

13. Incentives to current members.

14. Advertising board on perimeter fence visible from A30.

The Annual Awards and Dinner Dance will again be held at Short Lane this year on Saturday 25th April from 7pm until late. This is the social event of the year for all AHC members so buy your tickets now as Wendy and her crew are planning another extravaganza of fun and frolics for all, as the last two dinners held at Short Lane have been spectacular and very memorable occasions (look on AHC facebook for some more of the photos!). Family and friends are also very welcome and tickets are £40 each from Wendy Baker on ahcsocial@hotmail.co.uk or contact your team captain for further details. SEE YOU THERE.

Not to be missed AHC event -

Saturday 28th March 7pm start

Tickets only £6 - see Wendy Baker or your team Captain for details
ahcsocial@hotmail.co.uk