Let’s start off with my recollections of being First XI Captain of Sanderstead Hockey Club from 1972 to 1977. As I get to better understand how this blog works, I’ll add other reflections.
Although I joined the hockey club in September1964, it was in May 1972 that I succeeded Colin Mackay as First XI Captain. For five seasons, we went from non league hockey to Division 1 of the Surrey League.
Previous XI’s under Harley Sherlock until 1969, had been more talented with some outstanding young players – Tony Lycett, Terry Bailey, John Driver, Quentin Spurring and Gavin Goudie. However it was often not an harmonious environment and there appeared to be, a lack of resolve and fight. Games that should have been won were lost, the classic one being in 1965, when playing the LCC (later the GLC), a half time 5-0 lead ended up as a 5-6 defeat. My side lacked the technical ability and skill of Lycett* but, we played as a united team, utilising our lesser talents to the full.
Over the five years of my captaincy, we had a core of players committed to turning up every weekend, regardless of weddings and other social engagements, if they interfered with our Saturday afternoon matches.
The core players were Ted Farrer then Alan Hitchmough in goal. Colin Mackay was our regular right back. Left back initially was Freddie Edwards, followed by Peter Patterson and lastly by Ian Witchell. Paul Edwards and his able deputy Tony Hawkins, played at right half. Centre back was Keith Leaver with ‘Chas’ Carson occupying the left half position. On the right wing was Stuart Annan with Stevie Edwards, Nick Chatham and David Parsons rotating at inside right. Pat Taylor was our number 9, while I played as the other inside forward, with Richard Harris deployed as the left winger.
In the 1972-73 season, having opted out of league hockey, we nevertheless continued to play some of our’ ‘friendly’ opponents such as the Old Mid Whitgiftians (‘OMW’s), Croydon Gas, Bank of England (always an away game for us, at their superb sports ground in Roehampton. The hockey pitch was like a billiard table and the after match tea a delight). Other opponents were Croydon Municipal Officers, Cheam Hunters, Hawks Herons, Midland Bank and Guildford. All in all, it was a very successful season, in comparison to the previous three years. Eighteen matches were won, seven were drawn and a further seven ended in defeat.
The following season we joined the Surrey League but, being late newcomers we had to start at the bottom – in Division 3. We won most of our league matches, some very comfortably and, as a result, we were promoted to Division 2 at the start of the 1974-75 season. That season and the following one, we went close to promotion but were pipped at the post, winning all our league games, except for the matches against Old Walcountians and the OMW’s, who finished as champions and runners up with us in third place.
Come the 1976-77 season, we were still anxious to achieve promotion to Division 1. Indeed we did, but only with a slice of good luck. For the following season, the Surrey League was expanded and, as a result, three teams instead of the usual two went up, including us.
By gaining promotion to the top Division of the Surrey League, I felt I had achieved as much as I could. Time to hand over the reins (some would say a poisoned chalice) to Paul Edwards. Paul lasted a year and the team having been relegated back to Division 2, departing to Purley Hockey Club. However to end on good news, some years later, the First XI led by Alan Hitchmough gained promotion to the top league once again.
As an aside, with a few exceptions, I have the club fixtures cards from 1960-61 to 1978-79, along with numerous press cuttings from the Croydon Advertiser, which our intrepid umpire, Peter Pruden, dutifully submitted each week.
Looking back fifty years, I still get a great deal of satisfaction, recounting the matches and the camaraderie within the team.
Happy times.
Tony Day
- *To be fair to Tony Lycett, he was a brilliant player, too good for Sanderstead, so eventually he departed for Dulwich Hockey Club (in those days a London League side). Tony went on to play regularly for Surrey and, I think, a game or two for England. Please someone correct me if I’m wrong.
