Chairperson’s Welcome – 2022/23

Three years ago members from across the club rolled up their sleeves to dig, smash, build and plant to improve the surroundings of our pitch. It was a major undertaking. I remember the juniors, many of whom have gone on to play at the highest level in the club, planting infant Pyrocantha’s adjacent to some of the new security fencing. Now, those plants sit at seven-foot tall. They help provide a natural barrier whilst adding to the beauty of our grounds.

But to me, these plants represent much more.  Each year, as the season approaches and commences, they present to us their orange berries; painting the surrounds with a colour now synonymous to Adel. I like to think they provide an annual thank you to all those who give or have given their time to our club over its seventy-six-year history. Next time you’re walking past and notice them, I hope you think the same.

My name is Sam Jackson and I am the new Chairperson of Leeds Adel HC. Keen-eyed readers will notice that I am not Mark Powley. After seven seasons of as chair – overseeing a tremendous progression in that time – Mark stepped down at this years AGM. His tireless voluntary work in hockey and the wider community continues as he has recently taken up further roles within the Adel War Memorial Association (AWMA) and as Operations Director for Yorkshire & North East Hockey. To him and all those who have stepped down or back from their roles over the past few months – Gabby, Pam, Jim – thank you.

For the past seven years, I have sat in various roles on the hockey club committee – from treasurer to teas, sitting on the AWMA executive to plenty in between. I’ve found it incredibly rewarding and would very much encourage anyone looking to give even just a bit of their time to help build something to get in touch. For my day job, I’m a doctor but I spend most of my time at the club. I look forward to meeting those I have yet to and seeing old faces as the season gets underway.

September

Adel Beer Festival – 2^nd – 4^th September – Adel Sports & Social Club
An annual event run by the Cricket Section. Live music Friday & Saturday, and a family fun day on Sunday. For more information: click here.
Start of Season Social – 3^rd September – Manahatta, Headingley
7pm onwards for drinks and shuffleboard.
Sign up to the Facebook Event for updates and more information.
Junior Intra-Club Tournament – 4^th September – Leeds Adel Hockey Club
Celebrate last season and look forward to the season ahead.
12 – 2pm – then why not enjoy the beer festival and family fun day at the club?
Contact Jane Goode for more information.
Parents Evenings – 8^th & 9^th September – Eddie Isle Room (Clubhouse)
Junior parents – this one is for you. Learn more about our ambitions for developing our junior section and how you might be able to help!
Drop in between 5 – 7.30pm (Thurs), 5 – 9 (Fri). Presentations every half-hour.
Saturday Night Lights – 17^th September – Leeds Adel Hockey Club
Back for it’s 4^th year – coinciding as tradition dictates with the first game of the season. Can Adel retain the LS16 Jug in this socially competitive game versus Leeds? Sign up to play or find out more information by clicking here.

Membership

Membership renewals and information for new members will be going out shortly. As agreed at the AGM fees have been increased by a small amount to account for increasing costs to the club. As previously you will be able to pay over instalments at no additional cost.

We recognise times are tough, should you have any concerns about paying for your membership now or if circumstances change over the year please do get in touch with Alice (Membership Secretary) via membership@leedsadelhockey.co.uk. Be sure that matters will be dealt with respectfully and confidentially.

We want to support people to be able to play hockey whatever their circumstances. 

Over the summer we’ve been busy at work improving the infrastructure pitch side and around the grounds. We’ve installed a new LED lighting system. 20 LED lights replace 16 Halogen lights making it significantly brighter whilst reducing energy expenditure by greater than 60%. This £60,000 investment was aided by a £10,000 contribution from the AWMA. During this work, we also re-laid foundations for two masts found to be leaning. Although a large investment now, we should break even and begin to save money versus if no investment were made within 4 years.

Any profits made by the bar are donated to the AWMA – the charitable umbrella organisation for all sporting and social sections. Your support of the bar throughout the year means that contributions as significant as this can be made to aid infrastructure development.

The AWMA have also improved the lighting to and from the astroturf pitch, improving safety and security. These lights turn on and off automatically based on light levels. Additionally, the AWMA have also invested in a new easily accessible defibrillator which you will find attached to the front of the cricket pavilion. Hopefully it is never required to be used, but in the case it is necessary the code is 1934.

Finally, additional paving and drainage works at the pitch should make it easier and cleaner in the winter months to move around the spectator area. Thank you to those who gave up their time to help with this.

Volunteer Roles Available

We’re lucky to have a large and engaged group of volunteers that help to run the club. If you’d like to join this group and would like to make the club better for all members we have two outstanding committee roles for 2022/23 season:

• Fundraising and Sponsorship Secretary
• Grounds Secretary

For more information email mail@leedsadelhockey.co.uk

If you’re interested in coaching or umpiring we’re looking to support members by arranging and funding local courses. Fill in this form to find out more!

Adel Juniors

Parents Evening
We’re looking forward to running our first parents’ evenings this September 8th and 9th. Drop in between 5 – 7.30pm (Thurs), 5 – 9 (Fri) to have a chat at any time, and there will be presentations about the club and how you could help every half-hour.

We’re looking to hear your feedback about our junior offering. Committee members will be there throughout the evening and at training to speak with you and your children to learn more.

We’re also hoping to encourage and enable our parents to do more. You’re able to help in a wide variety of ways. Perhaps coaching, team managing, umpiring, helping to arrange fixtures, kit, membership etc. Learn more about how you might be able to help, how rewarding it can be, and how we are going to support the development of our volunteers.

Young Leaders Programme
New for 2022, we’re on the lookout for Adel juniors interested in developing their leadership skills and giving back to the club.

It will be a rewarding programme where they’ll be able to gain qualifications in umpiring and coaching and be given opportunities in a safe environment to develop the many skills surrounding leadership.

This opportunity will be free to all junior members and courses will be fully funded by the club.

If you or your child is interested, please fill out this form for more information.

Playing Kit

UK-wide teamwear stock issues appear to be easing ahead of the new season.
For more information on how to order kit, click here. 

Adel Food Bank

Many of you will have noticed a food bank collection point has recently been placed in the foyer of the clubhouse. With the rising cost of living and a difficult winter approaching for many please consider supporting it if you are able to.

In particular, they’re looking for long-life milk/ juices, tinned goods, toiletries, and breakfast cereals.

Thank you in advance for your support.