Southgate Hockey Club chairman Alastair Whatley previews the upcoming season ahead of the men’s and women’s home openers this Saturday

Southgate Hockey Club (credit SP Action Images) — Southgate Hockey Club play at Southgate Hockey Centre in Trent Park (credit SP Action Images)

A new season of top-flight hockey gets underway at Southgate Hockey Club this weekend with a double-header of English Hockey League action taking place in Trent Park.

Southgate’s men are welcoming one of the big names of European hockey in the form of GB Olympic hero Ashley Jackson and his Old Georgians team of international players, including current GB captain James Albery and legendary goalscorer Sam Ward.

The action starts under the lights at 6pm and the Southgate side come into the contest as underdogs despite the home advantage. Coach Huw Stevens pulled off a rear guard action last year to ensure the club’s Premier Division status was maintained for a fourth consecutive season.

A busy season of transfers and signings concluded with the arrival of Australian under-21s captain Max Hendry, to complete the 24-man squad which blends youth and experience, as Southgate hope to see themselves move higher up the league after their tenth-place finish last season.

Yet Old Georgians have been merciless, exposing opponents in the domestic league, and last week’s 5-0 demolition of Nottingham-based Beeston showed their clinical skills in front of goal with Ward bagging a hattrick to cement his place as one of the best goalscorers of the last decade.

Yet Southgate will hold onto the fact that they hold a few surprises up their sleeve, New Zealand international James Hickson has already been scoring for fun in the pre-season games and Mohan Gandhi, the USA international and former Southgate junior, has returned to the club ready to show his skills and experience to a new generation of Southgate supporters.

The opening home men’s game is preceded at 4pm by the Southgate women’s side, who are looking forward to their own battle royale against long-term rivals Sevenoaks, who travel around the M25 looking to avenge a 3-1 loss to University of Exeter last weekend.

For Southgate, Ronan Casella the new coach will be looking for a swift and confident response after just missing out on the points in a close 3-2 loss to the Bristol Firebrands, a 69th-minute penalty stroke the difference between the two sides.

Southgate Ellie Robinson has already steered her side into one of their highest-ever finishes in the domestic league and will be looking to push on and secure a much sought-after promotion to the Premier Division, yet the margins for error are slim and they will need all their wits about them to defeat a strong, energetic and well-drilled Sevenoaks side on Saturday.

Southgate’s elite hockey teams are free to watch from Southgate Hockey Centre in Snakes Lane. Gates open on Saturday (27th) from 3.30pm:
Visit southgatehc.org.uk

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