It was with huge sadness that Ashford (Middlesex) Hockey Club heard of the sudden passing of Club Vice-President Stephen Smith earlier this month. Stephen will be remembered with great affection by many present and past AHC members and by opponents alike. Stephen enjoyed an illustrious career with AHC that spanned more than 45 years as a player, umpire and Committee member.

Stephen first started playing in 1975 and continued through to 2010. Stephen was a member of the Mens 1st Team in late 1970’s and early 1980’s but his career remarkably spanned all mens teams over the years – many of which he captained with great aplomb. Stephen’s ability to enthusiastically skipper Ashford teams will be best remembered for four successive promotions gained by the Mens 5th Team from late 1990’s and for his legendary captaincy of the Mens Sunday Team – know affectionately as the SPF’s. The Mens Sunday side – apart from a notorious reputation for great sociability – was also very much a medium through which younger Ashford players would learn their tradecraft and Stephen’s larger-than-life character was an integral part of that landscape. Many young Ashford hockey players have come through the ranks and have benefited from Stephen’s exceptionally competitive spirit and great desire to win. Umpires will also remember his ability to volunteer ‘helpful advice’ when he was within earshot although such commentary always came with a kind word and a pint afterwards.

In todays parlance it would be said that Stephen has a ‘good engine’ and throughout his career his play was characterised by his energetic efforts at centre midfield and up and down the inside left channel. As an excellent left-handed player, Stephen was known in the vocabulary of the day as a ‘cack-hander’. That is to say somebody who played the game left handed which is a feature of the game that has almost disappeared today. Stephen’s intricate stickwork and great dribbling ability reflects his natural sporting talent – and on bumpy grass pitches too !

Stephen was Fixtures Secretary for fifteen years and amongst the highlights of this time was his managing of the Club’s first HA Trophy win at University of Birmingham in 1994. Such was his contribution that the team gave Stephen one of the Gold Medals given to the victorious AHC Team – something that Stephen appreciated very much.

After retiring from playing Stephen picked up the whistle and umpired for more than a decade. During this time Stephen umpired with many of us – including all his brothers – on Mens and Ladies fixtures. Stephen continued to make a great contribution to AHC in this regard with a whistle in his hand.

I remember playing with Stephen all over England as well as in the Isle of Man, Ireland, Wales, France, Belgium and Holland. His competitive spirit, great enthusiasm and natural athletic ability made him a stand out. His wit and wisdom off the pitch also made him a great favourite in the bar with both AHC members and opponents alike. He was greatly respected wherever he went.

In my more than fifty-years at AHC few people have contributed more to the Club on and off the pitch or have represented AHC on the pitch with such verve and enthusiasm. We will miss you hugely Stevie but you leave behind a lifetime of wonderful memories of many a great victory on the hockey field that were always celebrated off-the-field with relish.

With love and affection

Ian Jenkins
President.