This year we had a record number of people signing up to club day with 88 participants! Thank you to everyone for managing to keep to the timelines and evacuate the pitches promptly so we didn't overrun too much.

Special thanks to Jack and Owen for helping out keeping time and scores on the sidelines. Another big thank you to the goalkeepers that played all the games that evening! You guys worked hard all evening and managed to keep the scoreline low for all teams.

And now for a summary of the evening from the eyes of the captains...

It's Strawberry Blonde, honest! – Captain Tom Rosellini

Although suffering from both lack of souls disorder and gingeritis, the orange team managed to actually do well (Huzzah!). Even though the wooden spoon looked possible after 4 games we managed to actually score some goals. Special thanks to Coops for a wonderful goal in our final game, sealing 2nd place.

It's Hockey, not Hockley! – Captain Jim Hockley

We entered the Club Night tournament full of determination, grit and flair. A strong team of veteran players assembled around the red bibs knowing their one true aim was to come late on in the competition. The early matches against Purple, White and Blue all served as warm-up training for the main event. As the mighty 'It's Hockley, not Hockey alright (or something similar)' stepped onto the pitch, Paresh's 'Black Twigs' shed their leaves, trembling with anticipation with what turned out to be an embarrassing and lack-lustre performance for the All Black wannabes (or should I say wallabies). It would be nice to say it was an even game, but frankly the team in Red outshone the rather drab looking Twigs, showing style, skill and pizzazz, as they dominated the tormented and depressed Blacks. A weak and patchy defence was a particular problem for the Kids from Down Under. With that game well and truly under their belt, the team in Red went on to a solid and well deserved mid-table finish.

History is written by the winners (or at least non-losers), I've had a beer and I'm waiting for a lift.

Tactical Subbuteo – Captain Simon Cooper

The highlight of Team Tactical Subbuteo's evening was undoubtedly the Frampton/Ludlow double-act that sealed a deserved win against a talented Blue team. Sadly, things went downhill from there, despite the best efforts of my willing and able teammates and the full range of goalkeepers on offer. Our decline was miserably capped by my disastrous own goal that finished the evening. Sorry guys! Incidentally, my favourite team was definitely the hapless pair of hopalong volunteers that ran the administration on the night. Jack and Oven, what a pair of wallies.

Gnomes, PhD – Captain Naomi Penfold

All the pink team wanted was to have some fun. With a blatant disregard for any form of structure or plan, they skipped onto the pitch fresh from learning lots of new names and oblivious to what would happen next. A win over the McComish super squad? No one would have bet it. And another? No losses? Well now. Throw the tactics book out the window fellas and lasses, cos it turns out that all you gotta do is leave everyone to their own devices and watch the magic (mikey, proud recipient of a single golden ball, looking to complete the set next time) happen. Stellar performances all round from Doug, Richard, Dave, Ed, Sam and Mikey, Hannah, Liz, Blythe and Caroline. Lovely interlinking play + simple substitutions + low expectations = lots of goals to celebrate. And celebrate we did, every time. Here's to a happy hockey squad. Thx fr th mmrs.

Ground Interference – Captain Louisa Cantwell

Ground Interference had a storming run to just below middle of the table at the first club night of the season, putting in some cracking performances to secure the vital draws that would give us the league position we'd been dreaming about since the end of the June tournament. The crushing dampener on the evening was losing the linchpin that is Colin Troll to a broken ankle in the penultimate game, and the rolling about on the floor like a football was justified by the midnight X-rays. Hope you're back on both feet soon Colin :(

Scoring Royalty – Captain Sophie McComish

Scoring Royalty all arrived well ahead of time and had completed a thorough warm up and detailed game plan before the first whistle blew. Unfortunately despite this forward planning we lost the first game to the pinks but it could only get better from there! We managed to either draw or win the rest of the matches with some really great individual and team goals. Personally not coming last is the best result I've had at club day so I'm very proud of the blues!

The Black Twigs – Captain Paresh Parsot

The Black Twigs performed very well at the Club Day Tournament with their dazzling passing skills and using their entire bench within the first 8 minutes of each game. Although the Black Twigs did bend a few times, they never snapped leaving them unbeaten in the tournament. Unfortunately one win was not enough to win the Mighty Cup. However, the Black Twigs were stoked to take home Bronze and securing automatic qualification for next seasons Club Day Tournament. The Black Twigs would like to make a special mention to the Hockey and not Hockley team for somehow managing to play Hockey and not Hockley under a very inexperienced captain who has yet to win a toss. Thank God there were no half time team talks as this may have led the team to play Hockley (personnel com. Jamie Inshaw 2016).