ALDERSHOT & Farnham Hockey Club men’s first team is celebrating after being confirmed as champions of Surrey/Hampshire Division 2.

The club were waiting for confirmation – hoping for the best, but fearing the worst – after the season was cut short with two matches remaining.

There was no doubt they were the stand-out club in the division, winning all 18 of the matches they had played, and finishing a whopping 18 points ahead of second place Old Cranleighans.

While some sports have wiped out last season’s records because campaigns were unfinished, A&F’s title has been confirmed and they will be promoted.

To add to the celebrations, the club has been named the South League team of the year and shortlisted for England Hockey men’s team of the year.

The winners will be announced on Saturday.

Since coach Ian Jennings has arrived at the club, the men’s first team have been promoted three times in four seasons and they will now join Hampshire/Surrey Division 1.

A club spokesman said: “The key to the team’s success is excellent work rate and commitment and a real team ethos.

“As Jennings quite often points out to his team, individually they were perhaps not the best players in the league, but collectively they were comfortably the best team.”

The highlight of the season came in just the second game, trailing Old Cranleighans 3-0 with 30 minutes to play.

A&F came storming back to win 4-3 in a thrilling game; this gave the side belief in the new formation they had adopted under coach Jennings.

Scott Perry top scored with a very healthy return of 31 goals, with his drag-flicks feared throughout the league.

Aldershot & Farnham are a community-based sociable but competitive club catering for all levels of experience and offering quality and fun hockey for juniors and seniors.

The present club evolved with the help of Farnham Sports Council from Farnham Ladies Hockey Club that was formed in 1974.

Early games for the women were on grass pitches on the slopes of Farnham Park; they then moved to Morley Road recreation ground.

In 1983, the men arrived and from then on the club continued to expand.

And in 1987 it relocated to Aldershot Cricket Club and was renamed Aldershot & Farnham Hockey Club.

With the emergence of all-weather artificial pitches, the club followed a rather nomadic trail in search of a pitch they could truly call home.

But the long wait ended in 2002 with the development of the all-weather pitch at Heath End School – although the club still use the cricket club as their base for teas and socials.

The club continues to expand and now has six men’s sides and five ladies’ league teams in the South, Hampshire and Surrey leagues and an ever-growing minis and academy section.

Chris Edwards, who succeeded long-standing chairman Nigel Oates last year, said: “Even with a curtailed season, it has been great to see that across the club we have achieved success that we can carry through to the start of next year.

“It will be fantastic to see everyone returning to hockey when it is safe to do so and build on the momentum from this year.”

A&F rely on club volunteers who undertake many different roles such as coaching, umpiring, admin, catering – and more.

Chris added: “If it wasn’t for them, the club couldn’t provide the level of hockey for all levels we have, and continue to do so.

“My thanks go out to everyone who has supported us this way from within the club and I would like to say thank you to all the businesses that have been part of successful sponsorship programme – and we hope to continue this relationship next year.”

CLUB IN FOCUS n Page 31