As we head into this weekend’s round of fixtures, it’s worth pausing for a moment to acknowledge a truth often overlooked: the game may be played by 22, but it is sustained by 24.

So, before you pack away your kit bags at the end of your match, spare a word of thanks for your umpire – and, if you can, buy them a drink at the club. It is a small gesture, but a meaningful one.

Our umpiring team has been excellent this season, and under the steady hand of Vic Shelley, our brilliant ULO, the standards have been raised again. We are fortunate: while players relish the contest, it is the umpires who make it possible, and many of our youngest officials are now making striking progress.

Notable achievements include:

Charlie Cooper – National League umpire, now Level 3 including NL indoor Div 1.
Millie Hodgkinson – newly awarded Level 3 Indoor, with Level 2 Outdoor surely imminent.
Jake Shelley – Level 2 Indoor and Outdoor, moving promisingly through East Region toward Level 3.

And the next generation is well in motion:
Sam Barstow, Will Davison, Nina Shelley, Clara Fox, and Alex Swindin (who is on the cusp of beginning their pathway).

Among our adult cohort, several are working diligently toward their Level 2 assessments:
Mariette Rix, David Brous, and Alex Fletton.

Behind them all stands a committed support network: Lucy Hinton, Min Patel, Foxy, James Nayler, Windy, and non‑club stalwart Iain Johnson. No doubt a few deserving names will have escaped the list – a testament to how many contribute. We also benefit from superb coaching from Andy Poulain and Steve Mayhew, whose expertise continues to shape our officiating group.

For anyone curious about umpiring, and perhaps keen to earn a little along the way, the pathway has never been more accessible. Courses are free with England Hockey membership, and there has rarely been a better time to get involved.