As you look forwards, don’t forget to look back on how far you’ve come.

Richard, aged 28 and a half

Let’s begin with Coach Garth, who (with absolutely no software assistance) has written a little jingle to take you through the first half of the M6 season. Then we’ll look at our new signings, our reporters’ best photo submissions, our results so far, key dates to come, and watch a carefully curated video montage.

Twas the Night Before Half-Season

Twas the night before half-season, the turf shining bright,  
The team was all geared up, ready to fight (literally).  
The sticks were all polished, the balls neatly stacked,  
In hopes that our winning ways would soon be back.

The players were nestled, their warm-ups complete,  
While visions of goals danced in their cleats.  
Coach Garth was there, but not for long—  
A Team GB star would soon lead us on.

It started in Cambridge, with a pub crawl to roam,
Lee scouting the talent, while others called it home.
The team laughed and drank, spirits soaring so high,
But the next day, they woke up, hungover and dry.

But back on the turf, it was time to get real,  
We faced the M5s—our season’s first steal!  
With swift passing and plays that were neat,  
We left them all stunned, retreating in defeat.

But off the field, drama took a sharp turn,
Duncan betrayed Richard—oh, how the tables would churn!
A season’s start, and their bond was undone,
Like a messy divorce, no way to outrun.

A curry night followed, with spice in the air. 
The heat wasn’t just in the food, but the banter laid bare.
Laughter and chilis, the group filled with cheer,
But who’d have thought it’d end in a food-induced fear?

The Christmas party came, with Hot Fuzz in tow,
Nick Angel and Danny, putting on a show.
One swan in the corner, and garden shears near,
As the team embraced chaos with festive cheer.
A Japanese peace lily, perfectly placed,
As we “policed” the night, with no time to waste.

And now as we pause, halfway through the race,
We reflect on the moments, the joy, and the chase.
From pub crawls to curry, from drama to cheer,
This half-season's been wild, but we’re still in the clear.
So here’s to the future, the games still to win,
To teamwork and laughter, and the battles within.
With hockey ahead and the holidays near,
The next half-season’s waiting—let’s give them a cheer!

We’d like to quickly pay tribute to our 3 new joiners this season. Quietly proud of the back channel negotiations used to secure these throughout the summer. Of course, as well as the new joiners, we are lucky to have a great squad and would like to thank our players for sticking with the team in the face of impressive financial packages offered by competing teams within the club.

Just so Joe doesn’t feel too bad, here is one of Joris’ best goals: a penalty flick very nearly saved by their left back (their goalie was still stuck in traffic).

At the end of the first half of season, it’s always an interesting moment to reflect. Having received no cards in the mens competitions so far this season, I’ve been pleased to see that others have stepped up to fill the void, and I felt the presence of previous captains on my shoulder when trying to bail players (*cough*, Garth) out of confrontations. It’s a sign of just how seriously this team take their hockey, and also the cyclical nature of a team and the various responsibilities therein.

Having lost only 3 times across friendlies and comps so far, the team should be proud of their efforts on and off the pitch so far. But crucially, they should be excited about both league and plate, where they sit in strong positions, alongside their unique opportunity to display their skills against Division 5 (East) top table rivals on a Friday night at the national stadium at Lee Valley in front of 3000 seats (at least 30 filled). Details of this event to be found below and match day programmes distributed nearer the time.

Thanks to the volunteer efforts of the club (especially Alanna and last minute pitch requests), our coaching team (including those kindly sent down from the GB/England set up to help get us back on track) and club umpires.

Happy new year and good luck in the second half scrap!