Welcome to the 2011–2012 Hockey season!

How do we match the epic 2010–2011 season? This is what our captains think…

Ladies' 1sts (5th in Cambs Premier and cup finalists last season)

We are looking to consolidate and get into the promotion frame this year, although it is perhaps too early for our squad to mix it in the stratosphere above this level. Cambs Premier League has already started and the L1's are now into winning ways after a "challenging" start. (Ellie Raffan / Julie Sadler)

Ladies' 2nds (Cambs Div 1, 7th last season)

We need to push for strong position in Cambs Div 1 to keep the pressure on the L1s in the league above. Our league is underway and the L2s are winning already. (Lyn Wood / Leonie O'Donnell)

Both teams need to work on core skills of communication, accurate passing.  Commitment to play on Saturdays and turn up to training much appreciated by captaincy teams. 

Men's 1sts (4th in Eastern League 3NW)

Having retained almost all of last year's 'best-ever-finish' squad and acquired a few more very handy players, the aim for the 1st team this season must be to improve again on last years position of 4th in Div 3NW. Or, to put it another way, promotion to Div 2N.

Our two strengths are our mean defence (best in the league last year) and our speed as a team. Our success this season will depend on our ability to turn those strengths into actual goals - something we traditionally struggle with. Bring. It. On. (Graham McCulloch / Mark Williams)

Men's 2nds (Promoted from Eastern League 4NW)

The 2s are in uncharted territory, playing in Div 3NW for this first time. With a large number of new faces in the team, the first order of the day is to form a cohesive unit out of individual players. The main goal in the season is to stay up in Div 3, aiming to come away with about 25 points. In addition, we're aiming to soundly beat City 4s twice and give our own 1s as hard a game as possible. (Ron Oren / Tom Anns)

Men's 3rds (11th in Eastern League 5NW…er…relegated)

There is a clear goal for the 3s this year: to get promoted. We will be looking to score more goals while keeping our defence strong. To do this we will look to get the ball forwards cleanly without losing possession; passing to keep the ball out of danger and to make the ball do more of the work on the attack. Off the ball we will defend as a team. Playing for the 3s needs to be both enjoyable and challenging and I want our opposition think of us as tenacious and good spirited. (Simon Jelley)

Men's 4ths (4th in Eastern League 6NW(S))

We are aiming to get a full team out each week, blending experience and youth, bringing new players into the club and indoctrinating them into the ways of CSHC. Hopefully this will enable us to push for promotion and give the 3rds a couple of tough, but of course friendly, games in due course. (Ky Ho / Dave Monck)

All the men's leagues start this Saturday. Failure is not an option.

Mixed Team (new league)

A voyage of discovery as a new once-a-month Sunday league starts. Team soon-to-be-Benedikz steering the ship (John Benedikz / Vicky Lavis)

The anticipated glorious success will require:

– Much training: Tuesdays 7pm to 9pm
– Keeping fit…Pay-and-Play (Thursday evenings 8pm to 9pm at university Ground in Wilberforce Road)
– Playing regularly.…who wants to go shopping / visiting friends away from Cambridge / home DIY anyway ?
– Talent spotting / Recruitment…some of the squads are fairly tight for numbers; you must have friends out there just itching to join in the fun of CSouth. Can you deny them?

I wish all teams and players a successful, injury-free, enjoyable 2011–2012 season.