IN LOVING MEMORY OF TOM

 

Our Club community was shocked by the tragic death of Tom Wilson last week. 

 

Tom had played for the Club in an under 18 side that did not lose an indoor game all season and won the Essex, East and National indoor titles as well as the Essex men's league and indoorhockey.co.uk u18 championship.  They also won the Mercian North East League; were Mercian League play-off champions and Outdoor National u18 Club Cup finalists which was the only time they lost all season!

 

He had started his hockey at mini sessions at Havering and was a pupil at The Coopers' Company and Coborn School, Upminster, who we have close links with and went on to play for Nottingham Trent University. Whilst at University he played for Beeston and Belper before returning home to take up a junior surveyor's post with Lambert Smith Hampton in Oxford Street.  He had coached our juniors and was a role model on and off the pitch.

 

Many of his friends and team mates came down to pay their tributes to his family on Saturday.  Condolences have been received from Clubs across the world.  Our thoughts and prayers are with Lisa, Graham and Pippa at this time.  Tom was everyone’s friend and was always so welcoming.  He will be sorely missed.  The Club will let you know in due course what we are going to do as a permanent memory of this fine young man who has tragically been taken so young.

 

 

Happy memory – Tom playing against one of his international idols.

 

 

INDOOR SUCCESS – FITTING TRIBUTE:

U16 Boys - Playing in black armbands and in remembrance of Tom Wilson, who was a very dedicated indoor hockey player the U16 boys represented the club at the East Indoor Club Championships at the weekend. Tom was a National indoor champion in 2010 with our U18s and also a runner up the following year 2011.

 

The boys played three games and won two and drew one. It was a great effort by all the squad and each one played their part throughout the day.  They beat Sudbury, the Suffolk champions, 3-0 in the first game. It should have been more, as they missed chances and was unable to convert a penalty stroke but in the end a comfortable win.

 

The second game was exciting, with both teams trying to play an attacking game. It was against the Cambridgeshire champions, Saffron Walden. Loughts raced to a 4-0 lead deep into the second half and then got a bit sloppy by letting in a couple of soft goals. They then went 5-3 up and sealed the win with a goal in the last two minutes. With the team having guaranteed qualification for the National finals before playing their last game the boys faced Norwich City who had also won their first two games in essentially what was the final and the team made changes to positions and tried to get everyone on during the final. Leading with two minutes to go the boys unfortunately let in a late equaliser but with superior goal difference they were crowned champions.

 

I would like thank the parents for their support on the day and for also getting the boys to the tournament.  Also to the coaching and management for their commitment and organisation on the day. 

 

The team have dedicated the shield in memory of Tom.                                                                                                               Chris Gladman-  Head Coach

 

U18 Girls - After a tough week at the club, the U18 girls had their indoor tournament at the weekend. An early morning start on Sunday morning saw them take on Harleston Magpies and Canterbury in order to qualify out of the East regional tournament and on to Nationals.

 

Their first game was against Magpies and the girls started well, with Captain Tash Patient running through to win a corner in the first seconds, resulting in a goal. Unfortunately in a very close match they ended with various cards, a flick against them and one for them and 2 corners after the whistle which they couldn't convert and the game finished with a 4-5 loss.

The girls then had to face Canterbury straight away, the girls managed to lift themselves and go out fighting.  Starting well and went 2-0 up early on. The girls were set to fight for the win and did so strongly. With goals from Alice, Lucy and Tash and some link up play with Georgia, they managed to hold the lead at half time. The girls fought hard with Annie and Bethan making important tackles in defence and Hannah commanding in goal. The final score was 5-1, but it was a nerve wracking waiting for the other results to see if they had indeed qualified! But in the end the girls were crowned Champions and go on to Nationals at Whitgift on the 24th and 25th January.