Post by Vivek Gathani

… and that’s a wrap on our second season as a league club! Two and a half years ago, Roger, Ryan and I explored the idea of settling up a small, one team hockey club at Haberdashers’. Who would have thought that only 30 months later, we'd have two amazing league teams, over 70 members playing and training regularly and a brilliant committee running an exciting, dynamic and growing club! This year, we’ve moved from a team to a club. During this evolution, I’ve been overwhelmed by the sense of community. On a micro level, OHHC is a family of players, supporters, and umpires who come together each weekend to enjoy good hockey and great company! On a macro level, we have benefited from the kindness and generosity of a much wider community. England Hockey, Bhageecha, The Wellington, everyone at Haberdashers' Elstree Schools, our sponsors, Y1, friends at other clubs; the list goes on and on! The old adage says, “if you build it they will come”. Perhaps a better soundbite is, “if we build it together, they’ll stay”. First, a massive thank you to the squad! From the new recruits who joined us last summer to the stalwarts who have been with the club since the very start. Thank you to our supporters. Parents of schoolboys, partners of players and members of the wider Habs community! You have weathered wind and rain to support your loved ones. You have fought traffic, nursed injuries and washed kit. It’s this silent support that often goes unnoticed. I can assure you that at OHHC, it hasn’t gone unnoticed. Thank you to the OHHC committee. Thank you for always being there. Thank you Basil and Michael for Captaining the M1s and M2s so wonderfully! Two men who embody exactly what the project is about! Thank you Chris! I'm not sure you realise how much of a cornerstone you are to keeping the club and me going! A special shout out to our amazing coach, Arman. What you bring on the pitch in hockey know-how is only surmounted by your dedication to the club. Thank you Peter, Coops, Roger, Ryan and Rebecca for your continued support of the club. It has been a highlight coming in and helping coach the schoolboys. As we look to build even closer ties with the school next year, I can only hope we are doing you and the school proud! Thank you John and SUMAN for your generosity and support. Thank you Philip and Gaynor. Always at the end of a message, always supportive. Thank you Milda and Vaiva. The club needs a family to look after it, but so does the chairman. Thank you for spending so much time, energy and love on the project. I cannot explain how immeasurably lucky I am to have you flying our flag! Founding a hockey club has been the hardest, but one of the most rewarding, challenges in my life. Running a hockey club has been a dream, but a dream that is only possible with the kindness and generosity of so many wonderful humans! As Big Ange said, “in all the best television series, the third season is better than the second”. Let’s go again!