Get Well Alby Speed
Our stalwart grounds manager (Alby Speed) is now recovering from a bout with the surgeons after not feeling well while working down the ground two weeks ago, Alby took himself home and then went to Hospital were he had major surgery to solve some Heart issues. Word is he is sitting back enjoying the Olympics with no interruptions and progressing well.
Good luck for the last 3 games
On a happier note with 3 rounds to go the club have numerous Junior and Senior teams sitting in top four and getting ready to contest finals, best of luck to all those players, Coaches and Managers.
Ground Update
While I was in Darwin at the veterans national championships James Merlino the sports minister visited our complex to announce the $275,000 State Government grant for the upgrading of both fields and the hit up area at the rear of the clubrooms, this with the grant from Footscray Council and our own input of money gives us the funds to progress with the upgrades. From memory this has been in the pipe line for at least 6 years and has taken a lot of hard work by the grounds committee to finally get the funding together to start work. At present we are at the tendering stage in the process and hope to have the sand ground and the hit up area finished around Christmas, with the wet turf replaced at the end of next season.
Hosting Vets Championships 2009
The timing of the wet field upgrade will be dependent on discussions I am having with Hockey Australia, Hockey Victoria and the Australian Veterans Hockey Council. As the Victorian State Veterans delegate and also the Australian Veterans Championship Co-ordinator it is my responsibility to organise next years championships in Melbourne. This entails teams from all states and territories and from 55 to 70 teams competing over a 2 week period with Footscray’s complex being in the running to be the main host to this huge event. Eight games on each field per day will need to be played to enable the running of this championship with overflow games being played at the SNHC.
Thanks
To the parents and players who have helped with the country week long week – end, multiply that event by 3 times the people and take it over 13 days, it is the largest national hockey event held in Australia. Please keep this in mind when we call for volunteers, date at present is still being negotiated but will be at the end of the 2009 season.
Good luck to all teams participating in finals. Yours in Hockey
