You'll have probably noticed by now that we have helpers in the kitchen - Amy and Amy are responsible for running the teas between 11am and 6pm. Please be helpful and considerate to them as they get used to the job.

ALSO PLEASE NOTE, individual teams are still responsible for running the bar as per the rota. The team down for the evening slot is also responsible for ensuring the kitchen is cleared up following the teas from the final home game of the day. Your captains already have a lot to do so please try and make their life that bit easier by looking at the rota appearing here (for this Saturday and the following Saturday) and making yourself available to help out for at least some of the shift when your team is rostered for duty.

Many thanks - Al Spicer.

Lionel Warren - Vets Full Back Extraordinaire!

What can you say about Lionel that hasn't already been said. I first met Lionel a few years ago when he was already a well-established member of Amersham Hockey Club. He was, at that time recovering from a fairly severe accident and had, as I recall, just started playing again. Since then he has gradually grown from strength to strength and, like good wine, he travels well, (which is just as well with fixtures as far away as Bedford and Peterborough) but more importantly has matured into a very reliable full back - Mr Consistent.

Lionel is a very quiet player, little seems to faze him - odd umpire decisions, and even odder opposition never seems to get under his skin and it is this quiet authority he displays at the back that is a particular strong feature of his game.

He does have the habit of disappearing occasionally mid season to warmer climes for an exotic holiday or two, but, having just seen the weather forecast, who can blame him! His age? I hear you ask - this remains a complete mystery although many a figure has been bandied around - he merely smiles into his beer and quietly changes the subject!

It would be difficult to do complete justice to Lionel in such a short piece of work and there are other players who have known him for a lot longer than I have, but I can say quite honestly it's been an absolute pleasure to have shared the full back duties and a beer with him over the last few years.

Mens 4th 1-0 Mens 5th

This warmly anticipated opening fixture proved to be well worth waiting for. Despite pre-match selection shenanigans, that caused both team captains and the chairman of hockey the usual headaches, the end result was an evenly contested, close game that produced good chances at both ends and was played in fine spirits.

The 4th team carrying the burden of being expected to win did not have the weight lightened on arrival at the fixture. Despite the aforementioned selection shortages, the 5ths, being captained by a more experienced old campaigner, had seemingly performed a very clever flanking manoeuvre. On the day their team sported a squad rotation system that Alex Ferguson would have been proud of, including several "star players".

Despite this the 4ths, with only 11 players and 1 borrowed sub, rose to the challenge and had scored within 4 minutes of the start. Some excellent build up play lead to a defensive error which allowed Mark Stevenson to finish neatly.

The 5ths soon brought on Trickster who proceeded to make a nuisance of himself all over the final third of the pitch. Some solid short corner defence work and excellent goalkeeping from Chris Paine kept the advantage with the 4ths at half time. In the second half the arrival of Dave Crossman, as another attacking option for the 5ths, exposed some of the 4ths defensive frailties against the breaking attack but this was now interspersed with excellent forward movement from the 4ths, which produced several chances. By the end the final score could easily have been 1-1 or 3-0, depending on your point of view!

In the end the 4th team's greater desire gave them the edge and it was a notably gutsy performance from every member of the team. Special mention should be made of Tony Eaude and Michael Pedley who played solidly in the roles of sweeper and central midfield. However, the undisputed man of the match award goes to David Nicklin, the smallest and youngest man on the pitch. Always confident and solid on the ball, David started several good attacking moves and provided intelligent support for the front men in the final third of the pitch. As the business end of the game increasingly had the 4ths under pressure it was David Nicklin who often provided the release. Prepared to come deeper to give his defence a passing option. Then finding the simple lay-off to get play moving quickly other way....Outstanding.

LADIES 1s WINNING SOMETHING SHOCKER

Whilst problems converting chances have so far dogged the Ladies 1s Trysports BBO Div 1 League campaign, they have produced some admirable form off the pitch having already put away an impressive 62% of cheques in the not so well publicised, but obviously extremely important, race to be crowned A&CHC Subscription League Champions. Nevertheless, the competition is not over yet, as those in the know will be aware of the current leader's tendency to choke and let other sides draw level.....

Subs are due by the end of this month or you have to pay more (as detailed in the fixture card). If you haven't got round to paying yet, please bring your cheques along this weekend (made payable to "CPSA")

Contributor: Al Spicer

Live Football
The England v Macedonia Euro-2004 qualifier will be shown on the big screen tonight (Wed 16th), from 7.30pm.

Curry & Fireworks - Sat 2nd Nov from 7pm
Tickets (includes food & fireworks!) £10 each, family ticket £20 (2 adults & 2 children under 12). Tickets available from your hockey team social rep eg. Warren, Otty, Faye, Goochie, Kate, Bob, Caroline Chip or Mike Burge (cricket)

Quiz Night - Sat 23rd Nov - 7.30pm
WANTED - 20 teams of 6 people - cost £60/team includes fish & chip supper! If you are interested in getting a team together please email carolinechipperfield@hotmail.com. Cricket have got 4 tables ........ see Mike Burge.

The mens first XI would like to thanks all those that made the special effort to come over to Lions last weekend to support them in what turned out to be a good, and encouraging win. With the opposition having many vocal supporters your effort was much appreciated and helped us immensely.

On this note I would encourage anyone and everyone to turn up early to your home matches, or stay behind after them to support whichever A&C team is on before or after you. And when you are there beside the pitch, please make every effort to shout, encourage and cheer on the A&C team that is playing. This will help the home side and boost their playing morale. Just being there is a good start, being vocal and positive is the next step to helping this club be better, helping ALL teams in their matches.

The Veterans sailed into the second round of the H.E. veterans' cup (over 40), where they travel to Gloucester City, with a 7-1 win against City of Oxford at Newlands Park, writes Peter Colwill. There were two goals for Tony Eaude, who opened the scoring from the penalty spot after Neil Ruthven found a foot on the line, and two for Tony Bennett, who was playing his first game of the season.

Ruthven, who combined well with Peter Mills and Dornford Rugg down the right, was a constant threat to the Oxford side and it was no surprise when he scored the second goal. Another by Eaude was followed by Peter Wayman charging up field for a fourth just before half time.

A double strike by Bennett just after the interval increased the lead before Tony Fermor completed A&C's account. The entrance of substitute Mark Yeomans, once of City of Oxford inspired his former club to score a late consolation goal through Al Winter.

The next round is on 24th November

A&C Veterans (3-3-4) Malcolm Carter; Dornford Rugg, Peter Colwill, Peter Whayman; Peter Mills, Tony Eaude, Ian Ringham; Tony Bennett, Neil Ruthven, Tony Fermor, Steve Jenkins. Subs used: John Spicer, Mark Yeomans and Trevor Wood.

ACHC 6-0 Leighton Buzzard 3rd

Building upon last weekends strong performance, AC 3rds made a very positive start to the game against Leighton Buzzard's 3rd team, with Henri scoring after only ten minutes. Two more goals were to follow in the first half, with Goochie putting one past the keeper, and Nick W scoring after some superb play through the midfield by Doug, instigated originally by a moderate to poor pass from Ringham. The only notable offensive by the opposition in the first half resulted in a 'first team' save by Tommy, subsequently unlucky to concede a short corner, which was put to no great use by the opposition.

The second half only reflected the first half's performance, with more deft goals from Henri, Douggie, and Neil. AC's effective defence throughout the game prevented any threats from reaching the 'D,' with strong performances from Goochie, Craig, Ruggy, Dorba and Daffy.

Many thanks go to Maureen Rugg who umpired.

Played: Simon Gooch, Tommy Keeling, Iain McCurry, Doug Newton, Craig Ottoway, Ian Ringham (C), Dornford Rugg, Neil Ruthven, James Sorby, Henri Etchegoyen, Nick Wilson, David Dunford.