St. Albans HC

Season 2019/20

After a top four placing in 2017, two indifferent seasons followed for St Albans Mixed Team with two early exits from the EH Mixed Competition. But a new-look side anchored by some old faces took to the field in late November for Round One of the England Hockey Mixed cup.

With the ever dependable Galoot presiding between the sticks and the never dependable Bastock installed as the new Captain, hopes were high for a good showing this season.

A new-look defence of Coope and Briscoe kept out a determined Milton Keynes side who seemed to miss the fact that they had five other players on the pitch, as their men tried to win the game themselves. They failed, miserably, and St Albans comfortably moved into the second round.

A 2-1 win did not do justice to the performance of St Albans… slippery sidelines one of many challenges overcome by this young(ish) and hungry team.

Another home draw against Harrow followed and despite some aggressive play by the Harrow team in a bad tempered match (which saw a number of players carded for offences of which they were completely unaware), VC and short corner specialist Sarah Mobbs dispatched Harrow back to whence they came.

Another home tie against Thame was the reward. The question many of you will be asking now - "Who?" - was also asked by many of the St Albans team; but in the end who the opposition were didn’t matter. They all got the same treatment from St Albans team irrespective of who they might be ... and were suitably and soundly beaten by strong and resolute performances from new additions to the side Jean and Genie and Mixed Team regulars Kat and Tyler. The latter winning the game with a once-in-a-season reverse stick strike unrivalled throughout the rest of the competition.

A fourth round tie brought Hampstead and Westminster to Fortress Oaklands. H&W brought a strong side to the show pitch in late February but in the end not strong enough. A 4-1 win for the home team in their strongest performance to date earned a place in the last 16 of the mixed cup away to Reading.

Sadly St Albans’ run to Lee Valley was ended abruptly by England Hockey as the competition was put on hold in March until further notice. How far St Albans Mixed could have gone in the competition will remain a mystery but a 100% record can only be classified as one thing - a successful season.