It’s a new dawn, the next six months are a veritable blank slate, primed with opportunities.
There is a familiar buzz around a new look Sonning Hockey Club – a brand-new pitch, Osaka kit deal and sponsorship from Eight Wealth Management.

A lot has changed in the past few months. This weekend, our teams take to the pitch for the
opening day of the 2020/21 season following a batch of pre-season friendlies and the opening of the new pitch by former Prime Minister, Theresa May.

Home Fixtures

The Ladies 4s kick off Sonning’s season with a 10am push back on the Reading pitch. Alix Davis will be hoping her team start off the new season’s fixtures with a win.

The Ladies 3s start their season on our new blue turf with the 10:30 slot against Newbury 2s. The 3s were the only ladies’ team to secure promotion last season from Trysports Division 2. With Jordy continuing to captain the team, they aim to cement themselves solidly in Division 1.

Following last season’s promotion, the Men’s 1s start their campaign in the MBBO Regional League 1 at home against Ashford 1s at 12:00. Captained once again by Jonty Rider, the first team will be aiming to secure a mid-table finish and will be looking to last season’s player of the season, Nick Leach, to produce the same form in front of goal with his iconic drag flicking capabilities.

The Men’s 3s, led by Chris Roberts, start the season with aspirations of promotion. This weekend they take on Aylesbury 2s at 13:30 on Sonning’s home pitch. Men’s 3s player of the season, Matt Lappin, will be looking to pick up where he left off last season with a strong performance in midfield.

The Ladies 2s occupy the 15:00 slot against Oxford 3s. Charli Dale will be aiming to lead the Ladies to promotion from Trysports Premier Division 2 in her first season in charge.

The Ladies 5s host Bicester 3s at 16:00 on Reading’s sand-based. With many colts entering the team this season, and some returning faces, it’s sure to be fast paced.

The fixture of the day is the mouth-watering home derby in the MBBO Open Division 9
season opener between Ash Churchill’s infamous Sonning Men’s 5s and Andy Staig’s youthful Men’s 6s. The clash of the titans will take place at 16:30 on the new Sonning Home pitch. The two sides met in a preseason friendly, which proved to be a close encounter. Last years’ Men’s 5s player of the season providing the difference with a composed finish into the bottom corner. Men’s 6s player of the season, Eddie Burrows, will be looking to spoil the 5s day with a first clean sheet of the season.

Away Fixtures

The Ladies 1s travel away to Buckingham with the eye-watering pushback time of 10am. Kathrine Pike, and her Ladies 1s, will be aiming for first or second place after finishing 3rd place in South 3A last season.

Sonning Men’s 2s travel away to Aylesbury 1s for a 13:30 pushback. Nathan Toms and Harvey Richardson remain at the helm as they aim to navigate the team to success in the MBBO Regional league 2 following last season’s promotion. Alex Green, Men’s 2s player of the year, will be looking to assert his dominance in the middle of the pitch this season and will be looking for the ever clinical men’s top goal scorer, Steve Crowther, to produce the same composure in front of goal that he showed he is capable of last season.

The Men’s 4s travel away to Tring 1s as they seek a more successful season in the MBBO Open Division 6 following last year’s relegation. Matt Hopper takes the reigns for the second year running, and is looking to bolster his ranks with some exciting young prospects who’ve been called up from the colts. Player of the year Matt Van Der Vaal impressed in the 4s last season and will no doubt be on Chris Roberts’ radar for the 3s this year.

Finally, Sonning Ladies 6s will have to wait another week before they start their campaign in Trysports Division 6 away to Abingdon on 3rd October.

To all, welcome back! All the best for the weekend ahead.

#COTN

Sonning Clubs Captains