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Awards galore for Town players

Coalville Town Hockey Club rewarded its star performers for the 2007/08 season at its annual presentation evening, held at Lynroy’s in Loughborough.

It was a particularly good night for many of Town’s younger players, who walked away with many of the awards. In fact, 17 of the 25 awards on offer went to players aged under 18 years of age – proving that Coalville’s continued investment in youth is bearing fruit.

This year's winners

This was emphasised by the Town Under-18s appearance in the last 16 of the England Hockey Under 18 Cup, and even though they eventually suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of National League Beeston, even the Nottinghamshire big boys were impressed enough to write to Coalville and praise the attitude and skill shown by the Coalville youngsters.

Heading up the list of prizewinners were the McArthur brothers. Liam McArthur walking away with the 1st XI Presidents Cup and Under 18 Young Player of the Year, while younger brother Josh picked up 4th XI Players Player and Under 16 Colts Player of the Year.

Also picking up two awards was Chris Vernon, who claimed 1st XI Players Player and joint top goalscorer with Carl Clay after hitting 30 goals apiece this season.

The fifth XI were crowned Team of the Year, where Tom Kelly and Russell Hallam picked up the Players Player and Presidents Cup. Another Under 18 player, Jordan Ward, picked up the 3rd XI Players Player and Under 18 keeper, Greg Tongue, won the 3rd XI Presidents Cup. Matt Wooldridge, another junior player, won the 4th XI Presidents Cup.

Brent Clamp marked a fine season in the 2nd XI by being named Players Player, and the ever reliable Stuart Jobburn picked up the Presidents Cup. Rounding off the team awards were Ahren Parry and Dean Pallett, who won the awards in the 6th XI.

4th XI midfield dynamo Adam Martin claimed the most promising young player award, while talented young keeper Kieron Fisher picked up the most improved player title. The pacy Aiden Spilsbury, who’s worked his way up from the 6th XI to the 1st XI over the course of the season, was named outstanding prospect, while Sam Bingley won the up and coming young player award.

Liam Bates was named managers junior player of the year, while his younger brother, Sam Bates, jointly received the Under 14 Coaches Player of the Year Award with Andrew Young. Sean Rigley received the Manager and Coach Award.

The work done off the field by certain members of the club is often as important as what is done on it. Martin Saunt, who gave up his own time on numerous occasions during the season to paint the lines on the King Edward VII College pitch when they kept wearing away, was awarded Clubman of the Year for the second year running, while a special award was made to Club Secretary Geoff Dalby for his many year’s of voluntary service, both off the field but also on it as a club umpire.

Club spokesman, Paul Marston, said: “The awards recipients very much demonstrate the approach Coalville Town Hockey Club is taking. We’re investing in young players who are the future of our club and we have a huge amount of talent, with players now coming to us not only from the Coalville and Shepshed areas, but further afield also.

“This season wasn’t necessarily the best on the field, but it looks as though so long as there isn’t a major restructure in the league, the 1st XI will retain their East Midlands Premier Division status. The third XI suffered relegation, but the 2nds, 4ths, 5ths and 6ths all finished in the top half of their division and the Under 18s had their fabulous cup run. We’ll hope for even more success next season.”

Anyone interested in joining Coalville for the 2008/09 season should visit www.coalvilletownhc.co.uk later in the summer to find out when training will restart. Training for Under 10 players, both boys and girls, is taking place in the King Edward VII College sports hall on Friday evenings at 7pm. Anyone wanting more information, please contact Phil Sign on 07768 001986

Click here to view more photos from the evening.

AGM

All members will soon receive notification of the club AGM, which is scheduled to take place on Wednesday 30 April at 8pm at the Jolly Colliers Public House.

All fully paid up members are eligible to vote - so if you haven't paid your subs or owe match fees, you won't be able to have your say on how the club is run in future.

As usual, we'll be electing in a new chairman, secretary, president, press secretary and other committee members. So if you'd like to get more involved with the club, this is your chance to do so.

At present the venue for the AGM is still to be confirmed, but we'll let you know as soon as possible.

Indoor training

Training restarts on Tuesday 15 April in the King Edward VII College sports hall from 7pm until 8pm. If you'd like to attend, please contact Phil Sign on 07768 001986.

County trials for Leicestershire also start at the same time on the same night at St Margaret's Pastures in Leicester (with further sessions the following week at St Margaret's and then two more sessions at Melton King Edward VII School). Those interested in attending this should again contact Phil.

Coalville braves cup dreams over

Beeston Under-18s 20 Coalville Town Under-18s 3

England Hockey Under-18 Cup Round 4

A big turnout to support Coalville's youngsters couldn't prevent National League class from romping to victory over Town's brave youngsters.

Coalville's young guns can be incredibly proud of their efforts against a highly athletic and professional side, and in the process they became the first side to score past Beeston in the EH Cup this season not once, or twice, but three times!

Probably bouyed by the exploits of Barnsley and Cardiff City in the FA Cup, Town went in with hope of making it a hat-trick of lower league clubs producing shocks this weekend - but it quickly became apparent that wasn't going to be the case.

Beeston were no doubt urged on by a coach from the England set-up watching on the sideline, and Coalville's youngsters found themselves a goal behind inside the first minute. Aiden Spilsbury went on a mazy dribble after this, but was robustly tackled and from that Beeston burst forward, won a penalty corner, and the resulting strike deflected in off Ezra Watson's stick to make it 2-0.

The pressure continued on the Coalville goal, and Greg Tongue was soon forced into a fine save to turn another fierce effort onto the post. But Coalville did have an occasional foray into the Beeston area and Town won a penalty corner which saw Ryan Mason fire wide.

A fearsome drag flick at a penalty corner made it 3-0, but Coalville again came back and Mason and then Spilsbury both had efforts go narrowly wide. At the back Tom Sloan was in inspirational form, alongside the overworked Sam Bingley and Josh McArthur.

But there was nothing Town could do to stop Beeston's relentless surges, flowing passing moves and simple finishes made it 5-0, and even when Tongue was on hand to make save after save, Beeston forwards were still on hand to turn home.

By half-time Coalville knew they were up against a side determined to put on a show. Coach Jim Lamb and manager Phil Sign encouraged the side not to worry about the score, but to push forward and give the travelling support something to cheer.

Within a minute of the restart Beeston had made it double figures, and Town were being shown the difference between East Midlands league hockey and National League standard.

With the score at 11-0, Town then had their moment. First Mason's cross was within touching distance of being turned home by James Dumelow and Matt Wooldridge, and then a couple of minutes later Town finally did score. Mason picked the ball up on the edge of the area, outskilled an opponent looking for a spot in the 2012 Olympics team and hit a fearsome reverse stick shot that left the Beeston keeper beaten all ends up.

Beeston were inevitably wound up at conceding their first goal in the tournament and another drag flick and well worked team goal followed. But Town fought back again and another Mason shot forced a save from the Beeston keeper, only for Dumelow to be on hand to fire home the rebound and leave Beeston's defence sweating on their places!

Coalville continued to find gaps in the Beeston defence after this, more good work saw Jordan Ward slide in at the near post, only this time to be denied by a good save from the Beeston keeper, who then got up quickly to save Ward's follow up effort.

Beeston moved up through the gears again after this, and Sloan and Tongue were soon throwing themselves all over the place on the waterbased pitch, but there was nothing they could do. Liam Bates and Matt Taylor were working themselves into the ground to try and keep up with their opponents.

Beeston hit another six more goals despite Coalville's youngsters heroics in every department to make it 19-2, but Town still had the spirit and pride to strike another goal when Taylor and Mason combined in the middle of the park for Mason to shoot, the Beeston keeper to save and Wooldridge was on hand to turn home the rebound.

The Coalville support continued to cheer their boys, but Beeston had the final say with yet another rocket of a goal as a reverse stick strike left poor Tongue, who'd had an outstanding game despite the score, wondering what they had against him!

So the dream dies, but at least Coalville's youngsters got to live that dream. And hopefully they'll have learnt an awful lot from 70 minutes against 16 of the best Under-18 players in England who'll all hold out hopes of representing their country soon.

Junior training now on

Coalville Town Hockey Club is now holding training sessions aimed at youngsters aged under 10.

The sessions, which take place in the King Edward VII College sports hall on Friday nights from 7pm until 8pm, are perfect for younger players who maybe haven't tried the sport before, want a new hobby, and who aren't old enough to attend the junior training session on a Tuesday night.

First team skipper Phil Sign and Chris Vernon are taking the sessions, and it doesn't matter whether you are a boy or girl - all are welcome.

The session costs £2.50, so if you've got a younger brother, sister, son or daughter and you'd like to give them an opportunity to take part in an enjoyable sport, take them along. For more information contact Phil Sign on 07768 001986

Under-18s into last-16

Coalville Town Under-18s  5  Chesterfield Under-18s  3

EH Under-18 Cup Round Three

Coalville's Under-18s powered their way through to the last 16 of the England Hockey Under 18 Cup with a superb performance to see off Chesterfield.

The visitors to King Edward VII College had previously seen off Town's north west Leicestershire rivals Ashby in Round Three and have a 1st XI flying high in the Midlands Premier Division - two leagues above Coalville.

But Coalville were raring to go despite a biting wind that was making life uncomfortable for the large home support on the sideline. With around 10 minutes gone, the deadlock was broken when from a Chesterfield penalty corner a visiting forward picked up the ball and fired it across the area for a team-mate to deflect home past Greg Tongue.

Chesterfield continued to push forward after this, but Coalville were looking dangerous on the counter attack, and they soon caught the visitors out. Josh McArthur and Aiden Spilsbury combined to play the ball to Jordan Ward. Ward was clattered by the Chesterfield keeper, and despite injuring his knee, did enough to poke the ball back to Matt Taylor, who slotted home into an empty goal to level the game up.

Town now had their tails up and poured forward again moments later. The ball bobbled around the area and Matt Wooldridge fired towards goal, only to see a defender's foot block the goalbound effort resulting in a penalty stroke. Ryan Taylor stepped up and flicked home.

Taylor soon saw another effort saved by the Chesterfield keeper, while James Dumelow was inches away from a good cross from Spilsbury. But Town had to remain alert, and Tongue was forced into a save soon after.

But Coalville continued to have the better chances, with Taylor seeing a flicked effort at a penalty corner come back off the post, and Spilsbury's jinking run and shot going narrowly wide. The pressure was growing on the Chesterfield defence, and Town soon unlocked the door again. A melee in the circle saw the ball fall to Taylor, and he swept the ball past the keeper for Spilsbury to dive and turn it home to make it 3-1.

The goals continued to flow, though. A drag flick at a penalty corner left Tongue grasping at thin air as it whistled into the net to make it 3-2. But a couple of minutes later Coalville restored the two goal cushion when Ryan Taylor ran from the halfway, beating a number of players, and fired home into the far corner to make it 4-2.

That was half-time, and it had been fast and frenetic stuff. The second half saw things tighten up a bit as the Coalville defence of Josh McArthur, Ezra Watson, Tom Sloan and Sam Bingley began to get hold of their opponents.

But they couldn't do anything about Chesterfield's third goal, as a forward picked the ball up on the edge of the area, held off his marker, before blasting a reverse stick shot past Kieron Fisher, who was now in the Town goal.

Spilsbury then saw another effort at a penalty corner go wide, before Town restored their two goal cushion. Ryan Taylor again capitalised on some neat interchanges by his team-mates to complete his hat-trick and make it 5-3.

The same player then went close to adding a sixth, only to see a Chesterfield defender clear off the line. As time began to tick on, Chesterfield began to press and Fisher was forced into a couple of fine saves - one to spectacularly turn a flicked effort away.

But Coalville successfully managed to shut the game down, and victory sees Town move into the last-16 in the whole of England - where they are highly likely to meet one of the National League big-boys on Sunday 9 March

Kit available

A range of Coalville Town kit is either now available or soon available to order.

You can order hooded training tops, complete with club logo and your initials, from Phil Sign now, priced £22 (see picture below).

Also, coming soon, will be a new batch of the red Coalville Town Kookaburra tops, although price is yet to be confirmed.

You will also be able to buy Coalville Town socks. These are available in blue or white and come with the letters 'CTHC' down the back in blue on the white socks, or white on the blue socks. These will be priced £3 per pair.