Hockey: ‘act now to avoid a crisis’
Thursday 5th February 2009, 2:30PM GMT.
THE Investec men’s league is set to undergo a radical shake-up next season in a bid to save the game.
At present there are five teams in the top flight and the main criticism is that players have become bored of playing against the same people week in and week out.
So the chief executive of Guernsey Hockey, Andy Roberts (pictured), wants to increase the top flight by two to combat the possibility of teams dropping out due to a lack of interest.
‘I would not want to lose any more sides from the first division,’ he said.
‘I also believe that there are an enormous number of players in the second division who could fit into a first division side.
‘So why now? I want to try and avoid crisis management. If we leave this for another season we could well be looking at having to take drastic action to keep the leagues going.’
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‘Act now to avoid a crisis’ – what like the crisis in Israel?!, like the crisis in Afghanistan?!! or like the crisis in Sri Lanka?!!! It’s hockey for goodness sake. Most of the places I’ve listed above are a breeding ground for aggression, oppression and terrorism leading to abject poverty and social breakdown – i.e. a crisis.
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I’ve recently heard a rumour thta hockey pitches down Footes are going to be turned into a football dome incorporating some 10 courts. I think this is an excellent idea. It would make far more sense to set up a series of indoor futsal leagues, based down at the newly developed site down at Footes Lane. Just think of the numbers who would benefit from this compared to the numbers of hockey players that are struggling to get one league together and run smoothly! An indoor futsal dome would improve the skills of all players and benefit the whole community thus raising the standard of the local game. Football is coming home to Footes Lane.
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Moving on from the irrelevant comment above, I can’t see why the 2 division do not merge into one larger division? or will there be too many matches in a season?
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Could hockey not be played on grass like in the good old days. Whatever next, you’ll be telling me there’s a ladies hockey league over here! You won’t think my comment irrelevant when the bulldozers move in during late July Anon 2 – you won’t keep on calling then!
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Malcolm Barnes – completely agree with your first point about the word crisis being used in this situation. Unfortunately, using disproportionate language is an all too common feature in reporting these days…
I do like the idea of a 10 court futsal dome though – I love 5-a-side football! Sadly I think it is no more than a rumour but I’ll keep dreaming, just like the England football team! :-)
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