MBC HOCKEY CLUB
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MBC HOCKEY CLUB AND ABERDEEN BON ACCORD HOCKEY CLUB THE MERGED CLUB - BAMBC IT was announced in the last article in the MBC Community News that MBC Hockey Club had merged with Aberdeen Bon Accord Hockey Club to create a much-enlarged Club. Bon Accord was the only ladies' Club North of Dundee with a team playing National League hockey. This, coupled with the men's status in National League 2, now provides clear progression routes for all our players. The enlarged Club has three men's teams, three ladies' teams playing Regional and District Hockey, and Junior teams at Under 18,16,14 and 12 age groups - both boys and girls. Some 180 active members!! The merger continues to bed in with officials of both former Clubs fully integrated in managing the Club. Many late nights at the Cults Hotel have established policy and structures to enable the Club to flourish and develop. Currently a new web site is about to be launched to provide up to date information to members and potential new players. RECENT SUCCESSES Our ladies' first team has gained promotion to Division 1 of National
Indoor League. The men's first team came third in Division 2 National
League. Our Under 16 Boys won the North District Indoor Championship.
Currently the ladies team is placed in a tremendous position in the
outdoor league to gain promotion to Division 1 next season. The Men are
sitting in fifth place in their league. A significant news point of our Under 18 and 16 players: both boys and girls have been selected for District Squads and a number have been invited to attend National Squad training as well. The future is certainly bright. Three players are involved with the Grampian Area Institute of Sport namely Craig Harper, Catherine Rae and Lisa McNeil. This is a tremendous achievement for them personally as well as for the Club. CULTS ACADEMY PARTNERSHIP This partnership continues to be strengthened with over 70 players from the Academy now involved in either Junior or Senior Hockey. The cooperation and support from the Academy is strongly acknowledged. Our involvement with the Scottish Hockey Union has provided us with funding for the Grampian Hockey Development Officer to offer 'taster' sessions in Cults and Milltimber Primary Schools on our behalf. Following these sessions the Club intends to provide after school activities for primary aged players to participate in the sport. The Club is keen to recruit at all levels but recognises we have to be active in promoting the game, as other sports do, at an early age. A number of very talented youngsters have recently come from the local primary schools including Culter. DEVELOPING PLAYERS This is a prime consideration and to this end our Under 18 Girls' team is set to play a series of games in Holland over Easter as well as spectate at the European Club Championships. Hopefully BAMBC will participate in this competition in years to come!! Our Under 18 Boys' team has a squad already in place to tour Holland during the October holidays 2002. Plans are being developed to provide tours for younger age groups over May and June. The Club requires to recruit new members as an ongoing process. Please point anyone coming into the area who wish to join a local Club in our direction. For those wishing to take the sport up please contact us. FACILITIES The majority of our young players stay in the MBC and Culter area but, because outdoor facilities are not available locally, we spend extensive amounts in travel costs and pitch hire, which is a huge drain on resources. Cults Academy for example provides transport on Wednesdays to and from training at Keith Park, Bridge of Don, at tremendous cost. The Club uses Cults Community Centre Games Hall, Woodbank and Culter Sports Centre on a regular basis to promote indoor hockey and to that end the Club is well catered for. The Club continues to be active in identifying possible partners to establish or develop outdoor facilities in the area. CONTACT: Director of Hockey, (Gavin Fraser) |