We spoke to our committee members and asked them to tell us their role, why they joined the committee, their favourite West Hampstead Hockey Club memory, and what they'd order at the clubhouse.
Club Chair, represent the hockey section at the CLTC main committee meetings and work with England Hockey for the restructure (plus whatever manual labour Jamie sets me 😅).
Had been at the club for 6 years and thought it was my turn. Thought id do it for a year or two 😬...
Delft - any year (but probably Greece).
A gallon of goose.
Treasurer, looking after all the finances within the club, keeping records of the accounts and ensuring that the club stays within the annual agreed budget. Â
LOL... something about giving back to the club 🤔 send help.
Tough call... when Henry Shapland won a trip to the Ladies 4s sex tour at the quiz!
Jugs jugs jugs!
I have a scar on my forehead where I got 9 stitches after taking a stick to the head.
Ladies Club Captain. Selling the WHHC dream to new recruits and managing the ladies side of the club.
Felt I should give something back after 7 years in the club.
The time that Sophie Mills took the worst penalty flick and the goalie lifted her foot to let it in. Crowds went wild at BX, promotion secured.
I would order a tap for Pinot on the bar so they cannot run out.
Men's Club Captain - Helping out the team captains with anything they need, and welcoming newbies to the club.
I've been a member for about 7 years and loved every season; developed a lot of friendships throughout the club and so thought I could help out the club with this position well.
Too many to choose from, but probably just any club open day in the summer where we played fun hockey, BBQ'ed, and watched cricket on the balcony in the sun with a load of beers.
Jug of Hop House
I was born in Northern Ireland (🇪🇺 EU passport, here I come!).
Youth Officer, responsible for managing the club's junior section (currently very small!)
I took over from someone who was leaving the club, and no one else would do it, but it's fun (when we actually have some kids).
When the M1s won the EHB cup in April 2011. The celebration on the coach home and at the clubhouse was epic...
At the AGM it's usually 'quiet, please!' as I'm trying to write the minutes. Otherwise, it's a pint of Hophead.
Fixtures Secretary - tasks involve looking after the relationship with the school, booking pitches, scheduling league and friendly matches and any other odd job, like building goals or gardening at the pitches. Â
Jared put me into a head lock and threatened to break my legs if I didn't join. Just kidding. The Men's Fixture Secretary role was vacant during the Summer and after some discussions, I volunteered to do the role and was co-opted onto the committee.Â
Has to be playing in the last M2s match of the 2019/2020 season against top of the league. The club support was unreal that day and something that will live with me for a long time. Helped that we won and I also got my first ever DoD for WHHC, even after saving a stroke. DoD was deserved though.
Pint of Estrella and some more match teas, please! Â
Was caught on camera celebrating a try during the famous South Africa v Japan 2015 World Cup match.
Umpire Appointment Secretary, I work with the team captains and team umpire secretaries to ensure all games have two umpires.
Jared played to my weaknesses. He bought me a bottle of clubhouse Pinot and asked.
Joining the Fours Mafia in a pre-pandemic 2019 and all the clubhouse socials. SXTR to Prague and meeting Henry Shapland. My first WHHC league game at Southgate and realising that England actually does have better weather than Scotland, and I may be here for a bit longer than intended.
I didn't get my nickname of KOTW (Katy on the Wine) for nothing. Classic clubhouse Pinot.
Umpire Development Officer - My job is to ensure umpiring remains a cornerstone of WHHC and relay information from my role on the Middlesex Hockey Umpires Association committee as Fixtures Secretary and Welfare Officer.
I was very hungover at the AGM and as no one volunteered for the role of Umpire Appointments despite lots of discussion... I put my hand up so we could all go home. (I have stayed on committee because it's amazing how much a group of volunteers can achieve and I love being part of a team that cares so much about hockey).
Not throwing up at end of season dinners.Â
As many bottles of Prosecco as possible.
I hated hockey at school and threw my stick into a bush when I was told I didn't ever have to play it any more.
Coaching Officer. Involves organising the coaches for everyone in the club. Here to support the coaches with their coaching, and work through any feedback from teams to improve their training sessions.
I started coaching last year and I wanted to get more involved this year to help bring more support to our team of fab coaches.
Lately’s 😪
Jug of Estrella
I faint every time I have an injection.
One half of the comms team - with Maru. We look after the newsletter, social media, key messages for captains to share with their teams and even dabble in a recruitment campaign or two.Â
Jared would argue it’s to make his life a living hell - he’ll miss us one day.
Being in the clubhouse surrounded by members from all different teams - hopefully it will be a reality again very soon!
Has to be a jug of beer doesn’t it?
I use to ice skate competitively when I was younger, although chucked it in for hockey.
Comms Officer. Manage social media, newsletter and anything that the club wants to talk about, with my superstar idol Rach.
I love all things comms and thought it might be good to help the club. Besides, it might improve my english (especially the j sound).
So many (I cry 🥲). Maybe Delft or my first end of season dinner with L4s, all sxtr’s, cheese and wine or beating top of the league with the twonicorns, my first goal with the L1s (shout out to Speedy Cat, I'll never forget the pass from middle of the pitch), dancing in the clubhouse with dj runi and playing with amazing ladies this summer league.
A glass of the club Pinot (or a bottle- if the L4s are around).
Social Secretary. Main tasks: keeping Hugs (the other one) on message and in line.
Joined the committee because of ego.
Delft Tour 2019, a whole weekend of Dutch hockey, Dutch turbo shandy and Dutch sunshine. What's not to love?
Jugs of water.
I'm a karate black belt and London Youth Games medallist in archery.
One half of the Social Sec dream team - responsibilities include herding cats in the clubhouse, sweet talking Wolfpack and forced fun.Â
To enforce said fun.Â
A G&T to try and rectify the triple carbs that have been consumed at teas.
I’m better than Benji at tennis.
Welfare officer - hmmmm making sure you’re safe (and if you’re naughty, you’re told off!?)
Joined because it was time I gave something back....
Aaaand can’t go wrong with all the gin!!
Something you don’t know about me, again I’m never good at these....I spoke French before I spoke English.
Disciplinary Officer. I make sure the club is compliant with England Hockey guidelines, and deal with on and off the pitch disciplinary issues
I've always been involved with committees, and wanted to help out with the running of a fantastic club!
8s all you can eat 🇧🇷 Brazilian bbq in 2013
Pint of Estrella.
I played American Football at university
Xander Robinson - Club Officer. I represent the members views to the committee, an impartial and unbiased voice on the committee. If members have anything to anonymously ask, raise or suggest to the committee, they can e-mail me at club-officers@whhc.uk, and I will raise this with the committee, and get back to them with an answer. I am always looking forward to hearing feedback, suggestions for improvements, new ideas, and queries.
To keep Jamie’s beard in check.
What little I can remember of the amazing Sultans Tours that Paul Cohen organises. Apparently, one 9am morning game I pulled off a tomahawk into the roof of the net, whilst both drunk and hungover. Been seeking to recreate this in the league ever since, with mixed success.Â
Either a pint of Goose, or all the Prosecco.Â
I’ve skied at over 100kph.
