Let me start this newsletter with a great result for the Adders Santa Sleigh Team. Their efforts before Christmas on the Atherstone Sleigh have been greatly rewarded with Adders getting a healthy donation from the Sleigh Committee. In accepting the cheque on behalf of the Adders, Sally emphasised the importance of grassroots sports, and that this year Adders are planning to train junior umpires as part of the sports program for Adders Hockey. We once again thank the Sleigh Committee for letting us be part of this worthy fundraising activity, and team Captain Sally for managing the team again this year.

With around six games remaining before the season concludes at Easter, our teams are looking to build on recent successes and lessons learned. We appreciate everyone’s continued effort and commitment to the club.

A reminder to all members that match fees should be settled regularly—we recommend every four games or monthly, whichever comes first. Additionally, we still have some outstanding annual subscriptions, and our treasurer will be reaching out to those with pending payments to get them settled.

The committee is actively working on our Development Plan, with every alternate committee meeting dedicated to this initiative, while normal meetings continue to focus on club business. As part of this plan, we are seeking valuable feedback from members, parents, and players regarding the club’s direction, as well as playing and social facilities. To facilitate this, we will soon be launching a consultation with a series of short surveys, and we encourage everyone to participate.

Some of you may have noticed fewer adverts on Pitchero. This is because we have upgraded to a bigger package, which now enables us to sell sponsorship opportunities on our website—either for single teams or for the whole club. Further details will be published soon. If you work for or own a company interested in promoting themselves to the Adders Family or sponsoring a team, please reach out, and we will provide more information.

As the season progresses, our attention will turn to the end-of-season awards. We encourage members, players, and parents to nominate individuals or teams for recognition by the club.

Finally, we are actively seeking volunteers to support various club activities, as this club simply could not function without them. Every match, event, and training session relies on the dedication of our volunteers, and we are incredibly grateful for their efforts. Whether it’s assisting with admin tasks, taking on a role on the committee, getting hands-on with tournaments, events, and match days, or simply offering a helping hand where needed, we would love to see more members involved. If you can contribute in any way, please let us know.

Thank you for your continued support, and let’s keep pushing forward together!

Ant Hobbs - Chairman 2024-25
Atherstone Adders Hockey Club