50th ANNIVERSARY MATCH

Coalville Mixed Hockey Club celebrated their 50^th season, along with the Leicestershire Mixed Hockey Association last season. The team, who were formerly known as Western Park Rangers celebrated the season with an invitation to former players to have a friendly game of hockey with the present team. Players such as Barry & Hazel Byford, Bob Osborne (now deceased), Pete Osborne, Carole Sign, Marj Sebastian & Alan McGready, who started playing in the Late 1950’s & early 1960’s, together with Richard Smith, Malcolm Shiilliam, Mick Morgan, Liz Bogic, Ernie Sign, Kanti Patel & Sati Matherau who joined in the late 60’s & early 70’s & players Christine & Irvine Roberts from the 80’s, joined to make a challenging team.

Despite the use of old fashioned sticks having never been used for several years since players had retired being brought back into use , an extra team player or two on the field & a bit of imaginative umpiring the golden oldies gave the younger team a run for their money. Some good defending by C. Sign, Mcgready & C. Roberts still allowed for E. Sign to prove that he could still save a goal or two, even without his specs on! The midfield of Morgan, Shilliam (who was unofficially voted as the player of the match), Bogic & P. Osborne, who hadn’t held a hockey stick for 27 years, paced the field well. The forwards, Smith, Patel. Matheru & I. Roberts forced the opposition’s goalkeeper to perform some fine saves.

The games final score ended in Rangers 2 Coalville Rangers 4

 With the club now having 2 successful teams, the future of Coalville Rangers MHC looks bright & hopefully some of these (so called!!)  young pretenders will be around to witness the clubs centenary in 2048!!

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