Press Release - 08/09/2003

East Antrim Hockey Club
08/09/2003

For further information, contact:
Stephen Swann
Press Release Officer - East Antrim Hockey Club
34 Carnmoney Road, Newtownabbey, BT36 6HP
078 0316 7731
http://www.eastantrim.co.uk/

EAST ANTRIM TOPPLE MIGHTY CLYDESDALE

East Antrim Hockey Club's pre-season tournament (in conjunction with Newtownabbey Borough Council) saw 37 goals in just 6 games with the hosts emerging victorious - surprisingly.

Clydesdale Hockey Club sent a strong 1st XI which included many players with Scottish representative honours and in the opening 5 minutes of their match with the hosts, it looked like they could run up a cricket score. After all their possession, a goal arrived - but it was East Antrim that scored. And they scored again, and again, and again.

The onlooking crowd (and the players themselves) could hardly believe that they were 4-0 up at half-time - a scoreline that Clydesdale never recovered from. They did, however, show their class when they ran in 13 goals in their remaining two matches against Larne and Uddingston (also from the Glasgow area).

The final match of the tournament between East Antrim and Uddingston was a relaxed affair despite the pressure on the hosts to win the game to guarantee winning the tournament. And they duly obliged, although they left it until 2 minutes from time to grab a 2-1 victory.

East Antrim captain, David Caldwell, was pleased with the team's performances. "A number of players will have played their way into my plans for the season. We have a very young team, but they showed some real quality when it mattered".

Tournament organiser, Neal Hermon, was very enthusiastic. "The weekend went very smoothly. Almost 50 players and officials travelled from Glasgow to take part in the event. Umpires flew in from Yorkshire and everyone had a thoroughly enjoyable time."

Perhaps more importantly, the travellers have left these shores with nothing but fond memories and intentions of returning - good news for Ulster hockey, and judging by the stock that was left at Academy Sports Club at the end of the tournament, it is good news for the local economy.