End of Season Presentation Evening - 8th May 2010

HOOKY REMAIN UPBEAT FOR THE NEW SEASON AND BEYOND

Despite the lack of playing success for both its senior teams in Season 2009/2010, Hook Norton Football Club is confident of turning the corner and, once more, performing at a level to which the Hellenic League has become accustomed in recent years.
This was the message given by chairman, Mike Barlow in his address to an enthusiastic gathering of over 60 people, consisting of players, their partners, supporters and guests at the club’s presentation evening at Hook Norton Sports & Social Club on the evening of Saturday 8^th May 2010. Indeed, in an upbeat presentation, Mike praised the players of both teams for their loyalty and commitment and emphasised that many of them had taken a giant’s leap from junior football to premiership division football and had done so with commendable willingness and courage, with the well-being of the club being paramount. Accordingly, all fixtures had been fulfilled despite there being difficulties from time to time.

Mike was pleased to announce that the managers of both teams had agreed to remain in post, thereby ensuring much needed continuity for next season when the new match secretary will be Neal Hobday who will combine his responsibilities in this regard with continuing as a playing member of the club. Another new vital cog in the wheel will be Tristan Koch who has agreed to take on fund raising whilst also enjoying his playing role with Old Hooky.
With these important posts already filled, Mike expressed his optimism that, come the beginning of next season, the club will be able to ‘hit the ground running’, in contrast to what happened at the start of last season.

In closing, Mike thanked the various sponsors and supporters of the club for their generosity over the course of the past season and expressed a wish that such valued generosity will continue for the new season and beyond. Whilst everyone’s contributions were appreciated by the club, Mike made special mention of the excellent match day programme, admired by supporters from home and away, which was printed, once again, by KMS Litho from the village. He then made presentations to Mick White, Dave Edwards and Mick Prentice for their valued behind-the-scenes’ work after which he gave well-deserved praise and bouquets to Colette and Kerrie for their tireless work in the clubhouse on match days, thereby earning the club appreciative comments from visiting teams and match officials for the standard of its hospitality. Finally, farewell presentations were made to Andy Rogers (Second Team Assistant Manager), to retiring secretary, Garnet Thomas and to Geoff James who has also retired, having served the club over many years.

Awards to players were as follows:

Spirit Award (made by the Lee Stratford Community Trust): Neal Hobday 

2^nd Team Players’ player:                                                         Neal Hobday

2^nd Team Manager’s player:                                                     Neal Hobday

2^nd Team Supporters’ player:                                                   Matt Carberry 

1^st Team Players’ player:                                                          Joe White

1^st Team Manager’s player:                                                    Danny Poole

1^st Team Supporters’ player:                                                   Pete Moulder 

Club Top Scorer:                                                                     Pete Moulder

A thoroughly enjoyable evening was rounded off by a fundraising race night and raffle, prior to which the team managers and club officials were taken completely by surprise when Kerrie’s superbly compiled DVD was shown on the big screen, with familiar faces, attached to athletic bodies, gyrating to raunchy music!
As you may imagine, this showing brought the house down and typified what Hook Norton Football Club is all about.

Geoff James