1XI
2021: Western Winners, BUCS Western Trophy Quarter-finalists.
2021-22: BUCS Western 2A winners, BUCS Western Trophy quarterfinalists, Hampshire Division 1
Welcome to the page for the SUMHC 1XI. My name is Sam Cook, the captain of the team for the 2022-23 season. We play in the Western 1A tier in the University (BUCS) league on a Wednesday and in the Hampshire 1st Division on a Saturday. We also compete in the BUCS and Hampshire cup competitions. In the 1XI, you will be setting an example for the rest of the club and play at a high standard.
In recent years, the team has gone for strength to strength, consistently challenging in every competition and scoring a plethora of goals against other teams. However, we struggled to acquire a piece of silverware to display amongst the hall of fame in the mighty Wide Lane, getting unlucky and falling short at the last hurdle. Not last year though, like Roberto Manchini for Man City our captains (we had 2) last year broke the curse and won the Western 2A tier for BUCS, securing ourselves promotion for the first time in 13 years to the Western 1A tier. Quite literally like Man City and Aguero we completed a last-minute comeback victory versus Exeter to pip them in the race for the title. This was achieved through sheer determination, grit, commitment, blood, sweat, and tears. Now that the boys know what it took to get promoted, they are united in our next battle in retaining promotion and striving for more glory.
The 1XI have training on Mondays and Fridays and have fixtures on Wednesday for BUCS and Saturday for Hampshire. We are also looking to include further strength and condition sessions on Monday and Friday and recovery Pilate’s sessions on a Thursday. As you can see there is a lot of commitment when it comes to playing in the 1XI. However, this doesn’t take place without any fun. On Wednesday evenings we have weekly infamous club socials where you can let your hair down, play some games and meet other members of the club. Furthermore, on Saturdays we try and have as many team socials as possible that can range from something as simple as bowling all the way up to the infamous LC socials.
Although we obviously take hockey very seriously in the 1XI on the pitch, off the pitch we have a laugh and are good mates. I am seriously looking forward to a hopefully super successful season, and I am sure that some of you reading this will be a part of that success. Preseason will be held during fresher’s week, so don’t hesitate to send a message to the club if you can attend. We know how important it is for everyone to be welcomed and respected immediately, so that the team can play as well as possible. Therefore, the sooner you get involved, the better!