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Down Memory Lane: The Story of Under-14 Hockey – 1970 to 1978

Played 54 –Won 38 –Drawn 7 – Lost 9 – For 204 – Against 70

I completed a three year part-time degree in the summer of 1969 and so, by the Spring Term of 1970, I had time on my hands.  Someone was needed to coach the under-14 XI hockey and I volunteered.  I did not have a great pedigree, considering myself as just an average sportsman.  I had not played serious hockey for some years and in fact, apart from a few games for the Old Bordenians in 1963, my only regular hockey was in 1959 for the School 2nd XI.  Of course I was a regular player in House matches throughout my time at Borden but, although they were regarded as serious competition, the standard of hockey could at best be described as approaching something that appeared to adhere to a few basic principles of the game – a bit like a Staff versus Prefects match really.  I was nearly beheaded by David Rigden in one match, and that was in the days when sticks were not allowed above shoulder level.

Thus with more experience in playing football and no coaching experience in any sport save lifesaving, I embarked on a career as coach in the hope that sooner or later a staff member would come along who knew a bit about the game and who could provide a more professional approach.  In the meantime it was up to me, and I set about training in games periods and after school using the methods of the footballer.  Needless to say this meant the use of brute force and a more physical approach rather than artistic stick play.  Nevertheless this did remove most of the fear of the hard ball and helped to cope with the unnerving sight of opposing teams with large players who were supposed to be under 14 yet had healthy stubble growth on their chins.

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