Roger Loveland

There are times when the bad umpiring decision or the goal that never was are put into perspective by something of far greater importance. Sadly this week there was such an event with the passing away of Roger Loveland one of the true stalwarts of the OC hockey club. We always seem to read how those who have passed away were the best and most popular of people but Roger truly was one of the world's really good guys.

Over the 35 years of my hockey career I am indebted to 4 people in particular for the enjoyment I have taken from hockey and Roger is one of those 4. As a teenager he heard that I was interested in playing hockey at Cranleigh and after one of the treasured School v OC matches ( 1975 and aged 15 )he took me to one side, gave me a beer and said he would like to see a few of us up at TD in March at the end of the school season to play the last games of the club season for the OCs. Knowing we had no transport he came and collected three of us from all points west and after the games dropped us all home. This he did at every opportunity that presented itself in the holidays and for the summer and Sunday matches that the OCs regularly played. By the time we reached our last year at school we were hardened hockey players, converted OCs and all went on to play a good standard of hockey. Indeed, 9 of the 1976 and 1977 school first XIs played regular hockey for the OCs. Similalry he ensured that we took part in the Worthing and Renaix (Belgium) festivals that were annual events in the late 70s and early 80s.

Roger could easily have played for the so called better clubs but pledged his whole career to the OCs and still managed to play for the county - a rare achievement from one who did not play in the London League. Nevertheless he fully supported those who went away to play for the likes of Guildford and other higher ranked clubs but was always keen to remind us that we were welcome back at the OCs at any time. He also had the unerring habit of knowing exactly how OCs were doing at their other clubs in the days when there was no world wide web.

Roger was liked by all who knew, played against and with him, players and umpires alike.

When I came back to the club after a 14 year break Roger was the first to shake my hand.

The OC club of today owes a huge debt of gratitude to Roger and would not be on such a secure footing as is currently the case without the effort and support put in by Roger over the last 50 years. Sadly the club never made Roger aware of their gratitude in a formal way but knowing Roger who did not crave for any recognition he would not have expected any such attention doing what he did out of the kindness of his heart.

This weekend will be a sad day for the club being the first time for 51 seasons that Roger will not be able to check our results so when running out on Saturday even if you did not know Roger please remember that you are wearing an OC shirt as a result of Roger's love for the game and the club.

On the field all the teams face a fully charged last few weeks. Unfortunately top and bottom of the table dog fights are on offer. The first X1 face a season defining 3 weeks but even 6 wins out of 6 may not be enough to reach the play offs let alone win the league.

The relegation issues are a disappointment and mainly caused by lack of availability. In the games I have watched or played in for the lower sides the potential has been there but wins have not been ground out week on week. The close season will be used to see how we can ensure that captains know the availability of the players who are likely to feature on a month to month basis rather than scratching around for a team at the last minute. You as players must respect the difficulty presented to captains by last minute cry offs.

I have also noticed that the number of match reports is dwindling. We have one of the best if not the best web site around from a hockey club's angle and so we must use this to our benefit. can skippers please ensure that reports are filed with Martin as early as possible. Martin takes pride ( or is sufficiently sad ) to load up the reports on a Saturday evening if they are with him early enough.

Finally, remember remebre the 5th April.

An intersting set of results in the last 5 games for our tenants UCL in the 1st XI league has seen the run away leaders drop down the table with promotion no longer in their hands. I remember seeing a match report of theirs castigating the OCs for loss of bottle in last year's play offs. Always best to wait until the fat lady sings.

Two topics this week, one positive and one negative. Negative first so we can end on a positive. Extraordinary as it may sound there are still a very small number of players who have not paid their subs. I will be chasing them again and then it may be time to name and shame them on the web site with a ban from playing and request that their shirts are returned to the club. This is extremely disappointing and remarkably selfish.

However the date for the dinner dance has been published - 5th April - with our hoping to have a number of the rugby club along and the net ball team. Please put the date in the diary now and book the baby sitter where necessary - tickets are the same price for baby sitters as for partners - and let us see how many we can squeeze into TD. You may be lucky and be squashed up against the net ball team.