The Old Bordenians Hockey Club is separate from the OBA but we maintain close links. Many Old Bordenians have and continue to play for the Club and the Association has historically supported the Club financial appeals, particularly in regard to the construction of the Club pitches. We also welcome many of the OHBC to our Annual Reunion Dinners.
The following report was provided to the 2019 OBA AGM and will be of interest to OBA members.
2018/19 was another successful season, with three teams having been promoted: the men’s 1st X1, the men’s 5th X1 and the ladies 2nd X1.
The men’s 1st X1 have finished in the top three positions in Kent/Sussex Division 1 for the past three years. This year we finished second, behind Lewes HC, and due to a reorganisation of the leagues by England Hockey the top three clubs (the aforementioned plus Sevenoaks 2nds) have been promoted to South Premier Division 2 East. There is no doubt that this will be a tough undertaking for the Club since the reorganisation has added the 2nd X1s of National League clubs Wimbledon and Canterbury to the already strong body of clubs in that division. We have retained the services of our excellent coach, Huw Stevens, and Sunjit Atwal joins Huw as his assistant coach, and Gowan Youdale takes on the role of team manager. As regards the playing squad, we retain all of last season’s squad which will be strengthened by the addition of one or two new players.
Our men’s 5th X1 and our ladies’ 2nd X1 both deserved their respective promotions and both provide an excellent first step for our young players on the path to representing the club at the highest level.
Our ladies section has experienced a recent outbreak of pregnancies which, though depleting the playing membership in the short term, is viewed as a strategy to reinforce the playing membership in the longer term.
Our junior section goes from strength to strength, with the number of players growing steadily, and this season we shall field an under-10 team and an under-12 team in addition to our U14s and U16s. We are actively planning the provision of Flyerz Hockey, which is the name widely associated with disability inclusive hockey, and Walking Hockey, which is fast becoming a popular version of the game as it appeals to those who have played previously, or perhaps not at all, to those carrying a long-term injury or to those who are not as mobile as they once were.
If any OBA members would like to return to the sport or give the sport a try for the first time or if you know someone who would like to play, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for further information.
The fixtures for all teams can be found on the club website (www.obhc.co.uk) and, as ever, we would be pleased to welcome you to the pitch and clubhouse.
The final 2018/19 league positions of the respective teams are as follows:
Men’s 1st X1 – Kent / Sussex Regional League Division 1 – 2nd (promoted – see above)Men’s 2nd X1 – Kent Area League Division 1 – 9th Men’s 3rd XI - Kent Open Premier A – 5th Men’s 4th XI – Kent Open Division 1 – 11th Men’s 5th XI – Kent Open Division 4 – 2nd (promoted)Ladies 1st XI – Kent Women’s Premier Division – 8th Ladies 2nd XI – Kent Women’s Division 4 – Champions (promoted)