History of Newmarket Hockey Club

The past, present and future of Newmarket Hockey Club has always been and always will be hugely overshadowed by first and foremost horse-racing and then the other more popular sports such as football, rugby and cricket.

With quite possibly one of the smallest clubs in the region, Newmarket has frequently struggled to find players; the surrounding clubs always attracting players with their reputations and facilities. Newmarket moved away from playing on grass in the early 90s and began training and playing matches on Astroturf to help develop their game and compete at a higher level. Sadly, every game then became an away game as they had to travel to either Cambridge, Bury St Edmunds or Ely. The campaign to get an Astroturf started at the same time as the switch to Astroturf and fundraising commenced. The club actually went into the Guinness Book of records for the longest hockey match when the club staged a 60-hour hockathon back in 1992.

The club has been in existence since 10th October 1948 and is quickly approaching its 60th anniversary. NHC started with a mixed team and was then followed by the formation of separate men's and ladies' teams. Having played at several venues; Stanley House, the Town Ground, the Upper School, Scaltback School, George Lambton's and Ely, the club have returned to the Upper School playing on the brand new Astroturf there; completed in 2006. With a flow of players keen to play hockey from the school, the future is looking very bright indeed.

Subscriptions

Subscriptions  are due from all players by  31st October  each year and constitutes membership. Members may vote at General Meetings and play  hockey  with  the benefits  of  club insurance. Subs may be paid to your membership officer or direct to the club treasurer.  Cheques should be made payable to 'Newmarket Hockey Club' and marked ‘membership’.

* Includes all under 16s and all students in full-time education.

Day membership is available for those playing on a non-regular basis.
Seniors - £ 5.00   Juniors - £ 2.00

New Players - All new players have 4 weeks to pay the relevant subscriptions but will pay day membership subs. until full membership has been paid.

It's not just hockey either... Although the main purpose of Newmarket Hockey Club is the playing and promotion of hockey within the Newmarket area, we believe that taking part within a team and the team/club spirit within Newmarket Hockey Club attributes greatly to our success. To keep this team spirit we run a variety of club social events for both senior and junior member and their families too. Here are just some of the events which have taken place in the past and future events planned:

• Senior Curry Night

• Newmarket Races - Picnics in the family enclosure - everybody welcome.

• Chairman's Day - Senior and Junior games - present and past members - followed by Ploughman's lunch.

• Presentation & Bowling Evening - Held at Newmarket Snooker & Bowl - Bowling for 2 hours followed by presentation of awards and buffet - Seniors, Juniors and parents.

• Annual Christmas Dinner.

• 'Last Saturday of the Month' socials.

• Annual Summer Tours - Bognor Regis, Wisbech.

• Race Night - Fundraising event.

• Trip to Alton Towers

• Paintballing

• Trip to Milton Keynes (National Stadium) to watch a National League Game

• Hawaiian Night

Match Fees

Seniors - £ 10.00   Juniors £ 5.00

Travelling - The Club will pay 12p per mile on away matches on the condition that 3 people travel in the same vehicle and that the payment is under direction of the team captain.

Training Sessions
All training at Newmarket Leisure Centre.

Seniors: Tuesdays, 7.30 - 9.00pm, 22^nd Aug–20^th Mar inclusive, excluding 19^th & 26^th Dec.

Juniors: Thursdays, 7.00-8.00pm, 14^th Sept–22^nd Mar inclusive, excluding 21^st & 28^th Dec

Code of Conduct

It is a requirement of Newmarket Hockey Club that all members are aware of their responsibilities in maintaining the good name of the Club.

Club Members are required to:

• not bring the good name of the Club into disrepute;

• adhere to Hockey Association and League rules;

• observe discipline and acceptance of umpires decisions on the field of play;

• apologise to the umpire after the game for any dissent or carded offence;

• pay monies owed to the Club by the date due.

Club Captains are required to:

• maintain the discipline and good behaviour of team members;

• report both verbally and in writing to the Club Chairman within 48 hours any significant disciplinary offence that has occurred. This to include: red cards; significant yellow card offences; any significant offence not reported by the umpires; indiscipline off the field of play.

The Club Chairman will refer any report of indiscipline to a Disciplinary Committee set up by the General Committee. The Disciplinary Committee will decide on any disciplinary action required and this will be communicated by the Club Chairman to the player(s) involved. The player has a right of appeal to the General Committee.

The Code of Conduct forms part of the Club Rules.

Club Rules

The Club opposed all forms of discrimination and will actively encourage, promote and develop hockey amongst all sections of the community it serves. The Club undertakes to ensure that 2Sports Equity (i.e. fairness) is practised. This includes providing opportunities for young people, black and ethnic groups, women and people with disabilities at a level appropriate to their needs and aspirations.

The Club's colours are yellow & blue shirts (white shirts if kit is similar to the host team's) Navy blue shorts/skirts Yellow and blue hooped socks

The Club will comply to the rules of their Association and will be affiliated to the Cambridgeshire Hockey Association and Cambridgeshire Women's Hockey Association.

Club management will be entrusted to the General Committee consisting of Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Social Secretary, Men's 1st XI Captain, Ladies' 1st XI Captain and the Vice President's Secretary. The Committee can co-opt up to 5 members between general meetings.

The General Committee will have the power to conduct all club business other than those mentioned in these Rules, and will establish such committees or sub-committees as it sees fit, co-opting members and/or advisers to ensure the Club's growth and prosperity.

The date of the Annual General Meeting will be held between 1st May and 31st July in each year. The Committee shall determine the agenda of this meeting, including what officers are required on the Committee for the following year. Written notice of the meeting and the agenda will be delivered to members 10 days before the meeting.

An Extraordinary General Meeting may be called at the request of 7 members. Written notice of the meeting, and the agenda will be delivered to members 10 days before the meeting.

A member is a person who has paid their subscription. Annual subscriptions shall become due on 1st August in each year.

Members will be able to vote at General Meetings, to play hockey with the benefits of club insurance, and to participate in all club activities.

The Committee have authority to fix subscriptions and match fees, and to make rules for the proper running of the Club. The Committee may discipline members as it thinks fit. (See Code of Conduct.)

The quorum for a Committee Meeting will be 5 and for a General Meeting shall be 11. The Chairperson of any meeting will have a casting vote only.

Appended to these rules (which are taken from the Constitution) shall be:

(a) A list of Life Honorary Members (LHM)
(b) The Rules of the Club
(c) The rate of subscriptions and match fees

Guidance Notes for Pitch Side Conduct

It is the responsibility of the the Club to ensure that good manners and courtesy prevail towards the opposition, umpires and other officials before, during and after the game.

Once the pitch is available, the home Captain shall assume authority for the pitch and its surrounding area.

Clubs are advised to ensure that they have adequate insurance cover and that they are aware of local health and safety legislation regarding the pitch and their facilities.

Captains and Umpires should:

1. Agree the location of managers, coaches, substitutes and suspended players during their suspension and from where substitutions will take place.

2. Satisfy themselves as to the quality and safety of the pitch and its facilities and ensure that other pitch side furniture is removed to the safest location.

3. Check the availability and location of an emergency telephone and first aid.

4. Agree with the home team officials the location and allowed proximity of spectators.

5. Substitutes should warm up in clothing in a colour other than the participating teams in the agreed area of the pitch side.

6. Coaches and managers must remain in their designated area.

7. Vocal communication by team officials and players on the bench must note, in any way, be directed at the umpires or players of the opposing team.

8. Players not taking part in the game, or those in subsequent or previous marches, must not knock up or cool down on or near the pitch whilst the match is in progress.

9. Post match inquests should be held away from the pitch.

10. Spectators should be advised, if necessary, of matters relating to their conduct and particularly in so far as this affects the game in hand.

11. Small children should not be allowed to wander freely around the perimeter of the pitch whilst games are in progress. Children should remain under the control of the parent / guardian at all times.

12. Babies in push chairs should not be left parked on the side of the pitch.

13. Captains, coaches and managers should be responsible for their own conduct and the conduct of their players at all times.

Contravention of the Guidance Notes of Pitch Side Conduct should be included in any report. Umpires should advise County / League Officials of any abuse of these Guidance Notes.

Club Socials

Last Saturday of the Month!

 

Informal Club Socials will be held

8pm at the

Waggon & Horses

Newmarket

on the last Sat of the month during hockey season

EVERYBODY WELCOME!

Ask your team captain or a social sec. for confirmation

Disclaimer

The Club cannot be held responsible for any injuries a member may sustain while playing or training hockey. Members are strongly advised to ensure that they have adequate personal accident insurance.

E-mail list

If you would like to receive notification on when this website is updated or news and events on at Newmarket Hockey Club, please contact Jimmy Robinson on newmarkethc@hotmail.com