Fantastic win today guys you all deserve a beer northern style!! (that means getting really drunk calling the barman a tosser then getting barred, yeah that that’s a long story!) Last game of the season and we finished it in style with a win! Woking didnt half give us a game tho, my face was still red for about 2hrs afterwards, actually i think i burnt my forehead!
All of you have played excellent this year and id just like to thank you all. Also a big thanks to the “Doc” for being my vice captain and supporting me all year, i love ya mate!! Id also like to thank everyone individually but i think that might take too long, but thanks to:
Paul – our coach for training and being team manger all year and basically keeping our heads up throughout the season!
Lili- assistant team manager/ No1 support and for basically doing all the admin stuff (it takes me about an hr to work out the players in alphabetically order when your not there, yeah I don’t think I was blessed with the smartest genes!)
Becky – No 2 supporter, i think you know more about hockey than us now!
Umpires – Lisa P (aka Leg-end)/martin (motor -hog)/ Finny (we love u Finny)/ Chalky (aka “The Chalkster”)
Dog supporters – Lenny/Missy/pepper
Overall good job guys promotion next season! Il see you all at the dinner dance next week! (Wendy – no sambuca’s for me unless anyone wants to see their captain arrested!!!)

Your captain

Bec

Croydon came to today’s league game looking to have fun and to enjoy the end of a tough season. We had respect for Woking, they have had some good results, and they beat us when we played them away at their home ground. We were ending a season that has welcomed new players to the team, and said goodbye to old favourites (though I believe some of them still check this blog, so hello). A season where we’ve worked hard every week at training. A season where we’ve learnt many new skills and a result today that shows we can play now more than ever, as a team.
Coach had identified Wokings’ key players from last time, and we adapted our tactics accordingly. We hassled, and every single player wanted that ball, all the time, from the moment the whistle blew.
We went one nil up in the first half, with the first of three good looking goals. Pammy, (Croydon’s joint player of the match) brought the ball past several oppo players and passed the ball across the goal, Emma did a dummy and Fiona ran in and struck a clean ball into the back of the net. Its not what we were expecting, but it felt good.
Woking are a good team, and we knew this wasn’t the end of the game, but Pammy had fire in her blood and a ball from Santy to Becky came to Pammy who received it at the top of the D, she took a shot on a perfect angle and we were two-nil up at half time.
Those Haribos’ never tasted so nice.
Woking came back with a goal, which was well worked and displayed that given half a chance, they would be a formidable set of opponents. So we never gave them half a chance.
Instead Croydon were having all the chances, Hannah Duncan (Croydon’s other joint player of the match) got the third. It was a cracker!
Pammy passed it from the back line to Emma who hit it to Fiona, it came out to Hannah who struck a beauty. Hannah’s face was a picture, and by now we were all remembering why we turn up every Saturday. Its fun
Woking got a second in the final moments. Croydon just had to keep their heads up, and we did, and we won.
Notably there were 3 green cards, but this reflected the umpires decision to quench what could have got messy, but hat’s off to them both, it was well managed and controlled out there.
There was great communication on the pitch, every single player played excellently. COME ON CROYDON.

Thanks to Lisa P, for umpiring, great job.

POMS
Hannah Duncan (4)
Pammy Anderson (4)

Other votes
Pam (2)
L.Bell (1)
Elizabeth Uglow (1)

Thanks to coach and captain. (Great season)

Thanks to Netty for coming to watch, how annoying must that be to just be watching, but it reflects the Croydon spirit (you’ve got summer to sort that ankle out), Thanks to Lili, Becky, Leonard (that is a considerable drive you did this morning, but we appreciate it muchly), Pepper, Hannah Hamilton, Zara Hamilton, Martin Burke (aka Kevin Carter), Chalky (nice stitches, even nicer doughnut, where was mine?), Henners, Corny and the 2s for all their support.

I’m signing out for the summer. See you all at the dinner dance.

And who am I?

That’s one secret I will never tell. XOXO

What?

We’re not in an American teen sitcom? Oh Ok, then…..

COME ON CROYDON

I didn’t

Croydon ladies 1: Wanderers 2

Wanderers turned up with ten men, just as the weather changed from muggy to rainy.
Croydon ladies had the advantage but Wanderers played out of their skins, and its credit to them that they swung the tables in their favour and took the 3 points.
The game started with an injury and that set the standard for the rest of the game as injury followed injury and at times the infamous Harris sand turned red in several places.
I could go into more details, it is a match report, and that’s probably the only reason you’re (plural) reading it, that or seeing if you got a mention. But I got a really painful knock to my ankle and I lay around being generally melodramatic about it for a good 20 minutes and missed more than by even my usual standards.
So I have one detail, and it goes like this. We got a goal and this is how it happened. Pammy passed the ball out right to Fiona, who passed it to Emma, who took the perfect strike, and everyone missed seeing it because Pammy took the dive for glory and stole the moment. There is a trophy at stake. But Emma don’t worry, you notched that one up, and most of the skin on Pammy’s thigh is still sitting in that sand.
There were good moments, I think, with good communication and team work but at half time our heads were down, and it seemed we couldn’t regain our mojo.
Fiona, Wendy and Santy shared player of the match, and all three did sterling work in their positions. Well done guys. There were a lot of votes this week, showing that in true Croydon fashion we were sharing the love around.
Hope all the injuries are healing, including Chalky, that sounds very painful, hope its feeling better
Come on Croydon.

POM: Fiona Loxton (2)
Santy (Helen Sant) (2)
Wendy Howell (2)

Other votes with one vote a piece
Emma Livingstone Jones
L.Bell (Lisa Chalk)
Hannah Duncan
Sarah Norman (Buckers) – Nose bleeder tastic (there you go Bucks!)
Pammy Anderson
Becky Forshaw
Elizabeth Uglow

Thanks to coach and captain

Thanks to Martin Burke, Mike Chalk and Simon Finn for umpiring. Check us out with our plethora of umpires. Its much appreciated. Thanks

Thanks to the side line which included: Lili, Netty and Becky and Lenny and Missy for putting in a very cute appearance. And last but not least the non-hockey playing Loxton sister, Cath (who had a sister in each team). It was Loxtontastic yesterday
Thanks to Finny for the ice spray, its like a medical miracle.

Thanks to Becky and the whole team for providing a really good fun Friday night. I learned that when Pamela asks me for a “pin” she really wants a “pen”. That’s the beauty of our team, its a cultural experience.

We raised loads of cash, and I hear the club is getting uplighting in the trophy cabinet to present our photo (this is a lie by the way)

Not a cloud in the sky today for the warmest match this season. Croydon climbed up the league to 6th place by taking three points from the game with a 2:1 win.
Croydon started well, and for a lot of the first 15 minutes, all the play was in the Croydon attacking half. At one point Netty Butt, who had driven the ball well up the pitch, almost looked like she was going to thrill us all with her awesome striking power by getting a goal.
The first goal, however, was like watching a pinball wizard machine. It went like this, good pass, shot, save, good pass, shot, save but captain Becky Forshaw finally took an excellent strike and found the back of the net.
Against the run of play Wimbledon managed to get the equaliser at half time. It is easy to look at a league table and envisage an easy game, but Wimbledon 2As were good, they packed a lot of players in their attack, and they were fast on the ball.
Croydon had to rethink at half time.
Emma Livingstone Jones, Croydon’s player of the match played attacking centre mid, for the first time, in the second half. This blogger thinks if she didn’t know better she’d say Emma’s lying, because she played it superbly. She changed the tempo, on a hot and tiring pitch. She took out the wimbledon attack in the middle of the field and made plenty of vital passes to give Croydon a plethora of attacking chances. By the end all you could hear were excited calls of “Emma Emma” which was probably a bit confusing for her to say the least! Soz mate
Fiona Loxton had another solid game at right mid field. Her calling and positioning were impeccable, and she connected well with Emma. Hannah at the left mid position, made some excellent passes right across the pitch to find the attack, she also cracked a ball at the goal, which was fantastic and it was credit to the Wimbledon Goal keeper that it was saved.
The second goal was from a shot by Helen (Pammy) Anderson, who had already done some clever passes into space to set up attack. She took a strike, and when it looked like it could just miss clearing the line, Elizabeth Uglow knocked it over.
We got the points and it was fun to play. Everyone had a good game. Only two games left this season. We look forward to next week against Wanderers at home

POM Emma Livingstone Jones (6)

Other votes
Fiona Loxton (3)
Hannah Duncan (2)
Pammy Anderson (2)
Annette Butt (1)

Thanks very much to Martin for umpiring and for keeping our players in check.

Thanks to captain and coach

Thanks to the loud and loyal sideline which this week included: Lili, Becky & Leonard, Mark Butt (I think Mark’s friend was there too, but I don’t have his name?)

The photos are hilarious. Thank you very much to Becky Temple for taking them. They’re excellent, and it can’t have been easy with Leonard in tow. I will send them to individuals for approval before I load them up.

Also hope you’ve dried out now Netty?

Don’t forget the Ladies’ club night on Friday.

Come on Croydon

Thank you to Chalky (Mike Chalk) and Finny (Simon Finn) for giving up their Saturday to umpire. Great job guys. Thanks

Player of the Match: Sarah Buckley (9)

Other votes
Fiona Loxton (1)
Emma Livingstone-Jones (1)
Wendy Howell (1)
Lisa Chalk (1)
Hannah Duncan (1)

Thanks to Captain and Coach. Hope the black eye goes down soon Becky.

Thanks to the loud and loyal side line which this week included: Lili, Annalie & Brooke & Adrian (Plums), Mikey B, Dan & Oliver, Pepper and Liz’s parents

Are you still reading? Well done. If you fancy a good clean laugh, then Croydon 1s ladies are hosting a games night on the 25th March at the club house.
Posters and more information will follow.

Croydon took a point away from their game this weekend, after a high paced game at the Harris Academy pitch.
Captain Becky Forshaw was deserved Croydon’s player of the match, with her ceaseless work rate and excellent provision of passes up to the forwards.
Helen Anderson and Emma Livingstone Jones got a goal a piece (though correct me on that, because I actually missed them!)
Wimbledon were very fast and fit, and managed to gain the equaliser. Its a shame not to get the three points but that’s the way it is sometimes

POM Becky Forshaw

rest of names to come..

Thanks to Martin for umpiring.

Thanks to coach and captain.

Thanks to the sideline which included Lili, Becky, Leonard and Pepper. It felt busier than that, so sorry if I forgot someone.

Croydon ladies got a great result in their friendly against premiership team Oxted, this Saturday.
They led the first half with a fantastic goal by Fiona Loxton, which was delivered by Helen Anderson. Fiona slid forwards in dramatic style to deliver one of Croydon’s goals of the season.
Croydon had the run of play for a lot of the match, and even when Oxted mounted an attack, there was defender after defender to thwart their efforts.
Jen Hall made some crucial tackles, being reliably calm as ever. Lisa Chalk (L.Bell), was Croydon’s player of the match. She drove the ball up her wing, she distributed the ball to the opposite wing, she ran back and hassled any attack from Oxted, and her positive calls rallied the team (more later)
Sharon Burke, in goal, made some great saves, she dived decisively, and I heard a couple of players afterwards praising Sharon’s reliable and consistent skills.
Annette Butt, acted as a great pivot between the attack and defence and made some great tackles. Helen Sant, again in defence shadowed and hassled with aplomb. It wasn’t long before Oxted were looking riled.
Hannah Duncan joined in the spirit of hassle, and made some great passes up to the forwards.
Helen Anderson, tried a stint in attacking centre mid, linking in well with Wendy. Both made some crucial passes, and showed that they were both able to play out of their usual positions excellently.
Oxted got a goal back and it was an excellent one. The ball had perhaps hit a foot before the final strike, but that would be splitting hairs.
Kirsty Burke showed her talent for versatility by playing an excellent game as right forward, and then back in defence! Impressive.
Nicky Robinson, delighted us all her reverse stick hit, which is fast becoming her signature move.
Oxted were not a bad side, in fact they had some extremely talented players, but Croydon, statistically the underdog going into the game, was also a team of talented players who played together as a team and were easily Oxted’s equal.
I am told it was a great match to watch, the spirit was fantastic, and as we nearly scored on one of the final short corners, L.Bell shouted, “let’s do it for Becky”.
Our captain, Becky, wasn’t here this week, but as L.Bell summarised we’re all about our team mates, absent as well as present.
Come on Croydon.

Player of the match: Lisa Chalk (3)

Fiona Loxton (2)
Sharon Burke (2)
The whole team (2)
Helen Anderson (1)
Jen Hall (1)

Thank you very much to Martin for agreeing quite last minute to umpire.

Thanks to coach

Thanks for Sharon for organising the game.

Thanks to the loud and loyal side line, which included Lili, Becky, Leonard and Lisa P (who had volunteered to umpire but is injured. Get better soon). We always have support even when the weather is dreadful. Thank you.

Player of the Match: Captain Becky Forshaw (7)
Wendy Howell (2)
Fiona Loxton (2)
Helen Sant (1)
Sharon Burke (1)

Thank you very much indeed to Mike Chalk, for not only giving up his Saturday to umpire for us, but in doing so, he missed going to watch the England rugby match. That’s so kind Chalky thanks

Thanks to coach and captain

Thanks to the loud and loyal side line including Lili and accompanying chocolate and booze reward scheme, and L.Bell. As always having someone cheering us on, makes a big difference to morale on the pitch thank you.

Saturday saw Croydon walk onto the pitched with a slight variation in their formation and a determination to put their lessons learned from last week into practice.
They started with a lot of energy and held Tulse Hill and Dulwich in their defensive 25 for the 1st ten/fifteen minutes. Captain Becky Forshaw, provided much of the momentum in this early period along with
Fiona Loxton, Croydon’s player of the match, who on the other side of the midfield also played a consistent running game. The forwards were provided with plenty of ball for attack.
Late into the 1st half Tulse Hill and Dulwich upped their game and had a few chances on goal. Sharon Burke, goalkeeper, made some brave and timely decisions to prevent them converting their opportunities but eventually, Tulse Hill and Dulwich took an unfortunate goal, against the run of play.
Croydon didn’t lose their heads and kept hassling for every ball in the next half. Again the play was held much higher up the pitch and Croydon were again battling for every ball. The defense swiftly eliminated any of Tulse Hill and Dulwich’s chances.
Elizabeth Uglow picked up a stray ball outside the attacking D, and managed to pass it to Fiona Loxton who slipped it to Emma Livingstone Jones. Emma made tidy work of an excellent goal to level the score. The momentum was all Croydon’s for most of the game, and as usual every player worked their hardest all the time to create an enjoyable and good looking standard of play.
We lost 4-0 last time to Tulse Hill and Dulwich, so we’ve turned that around substantially
Come on Croydon

Player of match: Fiona Loxton (4)

Becky Forshaw (2)
Sarah Norman (1)
Annette Butt (1)
Emma Livingstone-Jones (1)
Elizabeth Uglow (1)

Thank you to Lisa P, who did a sterling job of umpiring for us. I believe she continued to umpire for the men, and then played for the IIs. Amazing. Thanks Lisa

Thanks to coach and to captain (see below for Becky’s message to everyone)

Welcome back to Pamela, it must have been a joy to feel the brisk English wind again.

Thanks, as always, to the loyal sideline, which included, Lili, Becky, Hannah Hamilton, Leonard and Pepper. We could hear your support and it makes a big difference. Thank you

Thanks to Jen or Emma for umpiring later on, I am not sure who ended up doing it, but thanks both for offering. And thanks to Becky for umpiring later too. Long days for you guys.

just wanted to say a big thanks to all the team yesterday, each and everyone of you played your hearts out! As a result we managed a draw again Tulse Hill who are a tough team, we could of won really. I hope yesterday’s game means everyone’s team spirit is back on a high!

Bring on next Saturday!!!!

Bec
1st Captain