Sports Clubs - Hockey

FP pair named first:

Scott Gill & Euan Robertson v Alistair Adam and Tom Blain (both of S6)- pupil win.

Bert Barclay & David Arthur v Chris Black (S5) & Jake McGlynn (S4) - pupil win.

Hugh Jackson & Scott Noble v Harry Cusiter and Harry Hawthorn (both S4) - pupil win.

So a 3-0 victory for the pupils extending their winning streak going back to 2014 since the last FP’s victory.

HOCKEY

In general, whilst the pandemic has halted our ability to play senior competitive matches since February 2020, the atmosphere within the hockey club is very positive. Although we were able to play some league matches at the start of 2020, once lockdown was introduced it became clear that hockey would not resume for some time, although at the time missing a whole 2020/21 season would have been unthinkable! During the height of the lockdown in March, April and May, our Club President, Ian Moss, helped to keep spirits up by kindly hosting a ‘virtual clubhouse’ on Saturday afternoons via Zoom, giving members the chance to catch up in a social setting. Following on from the initial easing of lockdown restrictions during the summer, we played club & local friendlies and maintained regular training from July until matches were again placed on hold in September. Throughout this same period, our Youth section did very well as we were able to provide continual youth hockey training sessions since the start of school term in August 2020 until December, with most of our age groups at capacity. We were also able to hold a back to hockey camp in August, and an autumn training camp in October. Feedback from several parents has so far been very positive, particularly that we were able to continue to provide safe training during testing times. Moving past the festive period and through the lockdown during the 1st quarter of 2021, things are certainly looking up for ESMHC as a whole. Following a further change in the covid guidance, we are hoping to return to the pitch before Easter with socially distanced fitness and training once more. In addition to this, we will be able to hold our annual Easter youth camps from the 12th-16th of April. I hope that this is a good indication of a more active 2021!

Moving forward, several of our youth players have been forward for East of Scotland Development Squad and for the East Academy series. For the next playing season our adult teams hope to capitalise on successes of the 2019/2020 season, with our Ladies 1s competing as a new entry in the Scottish Hockey Premiership, and the Mens 1st team competing for a top spot in National League 2 after previously finishing 3rd place.