Adel just isn’t like other clubs

I’ve been lucky enough over the last few months to meet up with some old faces across the country who used to play at Adel. The same words kept cropping up when talking about hockey – “Adel just isn’t like other clubs.” 

Community, family, home – all are words that clubs like to use to describe themselves. They are an ideal, a wish, a desire that most clubs across the country strive for. However, I’m becoming more convinced that what we have at Adel is rare and should very much be cherished.

At the end-of-season dinner in May, I wrote letters to all those that had given time to the club in an additional way over the previous 12 months. I wrote letters for well over half of the 160 people that attended, and I could have had to write the same amount again should others have been there. We do not struggle for volunteers. We do not struggle for active participants. We do not struggle for the time that people are willing to give for the greater good. We do not rely on a set few individuals to thrive as a club. This allows us the flexibility to do the basics well and focus on how we can develop as a club. There is plenty more still to do.

It is fast becoming the norm at Adel, that each and every member – juniors, seniors, and parents – give some of their time to the club across each season.  Look around you in your team and across your section, and you will see this. They’re giving their time in small ways and larger chunks. I’m very proud to be part of a club where this altruism is normal and where people are excited and glad to give more.

We have funds and programmes available to remove as many barriers as possible to people helping and developing as volunteers. So, get in touch to see how you can help too.

And now we go into a new season. A season where we welcome so many new members to our club. It is my hope that you will see soon just why Adel is different.

The finances of the club remain strong in the short, medium, and long-term. This despite the fact that we have some of the most affordable hockey in the region and retain our policy whereby nobody should miss out on hockey if they’re are unable to afford it. By having this strength in our finances, we have put ourselves in a position where we can continue to develop for the future. We’ve done that this year by increasing our development budgets in relation to our volunteers, equipment, and pitch. 

We’ve also allocated £30,000+ to the design and preparatory work required for a new pitch-side changing and club room facility. Expect news on this very soon. Huge thanks have to be passed on to Andrew Grindrod, Nic Crocker, Matt Brown, and Nick Cooper for their work on the project.

Much of the money for the new changing facility has come from fundraising over the summer. Emmie (under 10) raised almost a thousand pounds doing a sprint distance triathlon – she’s now also running a mascot competition for the club. Alice (ladies 1s) ran a 100 Club fundraiser which brought in vital funds to allow us to progress our project. And I’m very thankful to all that donated to the club in support of the Liverpool to Leeds canal run that I completed in June. 

Our hockey offering has grown again this year, with the introduction of “Hockey Saturdays” – a place where people can play regular hockey without the full commitment of squad training and matches. This takes place alongside our new Adel Pups (under 8s) – which is replacing, and developing on, our previous Hockey Heroes programme.

As always we have a vibrant social calendar upcoming this year which was kicked off in a wonderful way last Friday with Pig Racing Welcome Drinks – enjoyed by seniors, juniors and parents alike. Expect hockey players in the clubhouse every evening of the week, and on Saturdays from open to close. 

You’ll soon feel that community, family, home.

So they’re right, Adel just isn’t like other clubs, and we have no intention of joining the flock.

Welcome to the 2024/25 season.

Sam – Chair, Adel Hockey Club