Last season 7 of our 14 adult teams were promoted. An exceptional result. At long last this season, most of our teams found themselves at the right level after moving from the London or Essex leagues to the East league or rising as new entrants from the bottom division up. Despite last year’s promotions every team not only held its own but played some excellent hockey. Two teams, the Women’s 1s and Women’s 3s were promoted as champions. No teams were relegated.

Women’s teams

After the W2s, W4s and W5s promotion last season, the objectives for the new season were consolidation for the promoted teams and promotion for the W1s and W3s. Mission accomplished!

Women’s 1s – East Area Premier division - Champions

After 9 years out of the National league and having finished 4th last season, a major step forward, Loughts W1s, buoyed by some excellent new recruits, were hoping for a successful campaign. The season started well with 3 wins against City of Peterborough and Havering away and Sudbury at home but then had a blip with a 4-1 loss to St Albans 2s at home. After that wins against Broxbourne, Bury St Edmunds and Magpies 2s put Loughts firmly back on course before a draw at home against Norwich. Loughts kept grinding out results and after Christmas it looked like a two horse race for the title between Loughts and a strong Cambridge University 1st team. The turning point came in February when Loughts won 1-0 away at Wilberforce Road to inflict the first defeat of their campaign on Cambridge. Five weeks later Cambridge Uni came to Luxborough Lane in the rearranged return fixture and Loughts won again this time 2-0 to make it 8 straight wins in the league. A nervy 2-2 draw at home to Magpies 2s the week afterwards meant 2 wins would be needed to gain promotion. An excellent away win at Norwich followed by a home win against Letchworth duly secured the title. 19 wins, 14 clean sheets, 66 goals scored by 14 different players and only the 1 defeat all season. Congratulations to coach Miranda Baldwin and captain Tash Patient as well as players’ player of the season Adele Sammons, coach’s player of the season Stevie Southall, top scorer Emily Holmes with 14 goals and especially all those players who have stuck with the team through thick and thin over the long and difficult journey to return to the National League. The East premier league is very difficult to get out of and Loughts came through every test with flying colours. Next season Loughts will once again take their place in the National league.

Women’s 2s – East Area division 1 South – 6th

The season started in disarray as the East Area allowed an appeal against relegation which would have meant both the women’s 2s and men’s 3s not being promoted to division 1 South after all. After protests from all the big clubs in the East Area a compromise solution left the teams promoted but also left the appellants not relegated and a 13 team league. Under new management with Laura Blatter as captain, Ozzie Pandor coach and Rachel Paddon manager, Loughts had a worrying start losing their first three matches but then had a purple patch winning 5 and drawing 2 and scoring 4 against both Old Southendians 1s and Ipswich & East Suffolk 1s. After Christmas the team had mixed fortunes. All the matches were very close with a single goal the decider including wins against Stevenage 1s and Basildon 1s . Four very tight losses as the season concluded left Loughts mid table but they finished the season in style with a 3-0 win against St Albans 2s. Ever present Dottie Blake, Cerys Edwards, Kim Grave and Cressida Jamieson were key to the success with Siobhan Daley top scorer.

Women’s 3s - East Area division 3 South East - Champions

The women’s 3s narrowly missed out on promotion last season and started the season well with two wins but faltered briefly against two of their main competitors before 4 wins in a row. At the Christmas break Waltham Forest 2s, Braintree 1s ,Brentwood 3s, Upminster 3s and Basildon 3s were all in contention with Loughts (with two games in hand) waiting in the wings. Loughts beat Upminster and drew away with league leaders Waltham Forest in February but then lost to Basildon and Brentwood. Loughts were however in imperious form in March and April winning all of their last six matches including good wins away at Basildon and runners up Braintree in the last two matches of the season. Congratulations to Jane Blake and her team which includes players born in every decade from the fifties to the noughties. Jessica Donnelly, Alannah Foskett and Karen Leach were top scorers and at the other end Sophie Kiely had an exceptional first season in goal.

Women’s 4s – East Area division 4 South East – 7th

After promotion last year the team were in confident mood heading into the new season. That confidence was dashed as they lost their first four matches. A good 3-0 win against Crostyx 3s steadied the ship and the first half of the season ended on a high with a 8-2 win against Witham 2s. Three wins and three draws after Christmas left the team on a very respectable 22 points and in good shape for next season. Well done to Mel Draper and her team. Jill Bowyer, Maxine Brinton, Alison Harrold, Amelie Mackenzie and Christine Tomlinson were ever present but other players were not available every week which was reflected in some of the results. Both the 4s and 5s also missed having a regular keeper with Jane Blake and Sam Gayler valiantly stepping between the sticks on more than one occasion to help out. Lynn Wright was top scorer for the team with 14 goals with Alison Harrold adding 8.

Women’s 5s – East Area division 5 South East – 5th

The women’s 5s were the surprise package of the season. A young side coached and managed by Claire Pandor started the season in emphatic style winning 7-0 against Waltham Forest 4s. They drew away at Upminster the following week but then won three in a row without conceding a goal Two close losses were followed by two more wins to nil. The impressive defensive form continued after Christmas with Loughts not conceding a single goal for seven of the first eight matches. A fine season concluded with a 5-3 win away against Thurrock 3s. Loughts scored an impressive 50 goals with only 22 against and ended on 43 points. Poppy Dias scored 8 goals in her 5 matches, Lara Williams scored 6 and Keira Keogh 5 and 16 other players also chipped in. Erica Howlett, Darcey Mackenzie, Carina Gobis and Purvi Thomson put in the most appearances with an incredible 59 different players involved at one time or another.

Men’s teams

With so many promotions last season the men’s section knew teams would be in for some real competition after a few too many seasons playing the wrong standard of opposition. There was a pre-season reorganisation with the historic, but no longer apt, Foresters, Academy and Loppers names honourably retired and the Willows teams now labelled from the M5s (instead of the M6s) down. The M9s were disbanded which with hindsight was a wise decision after injuries disrupted the best laid plans especially for the M2s and M3s which had a knock on effect down the club. Overall it was an impressive season with the M1s and M2s both very successful despite injuries and every other team consolidating its position.

Men’s 1s – England Hockey division 1 South – 2nd

After winning the East Conference last season coach Lee Ible had his eyes on promotion back into the top tier of hockey. The season started well with an exciting 4-1 away win at Bath Buccs and home wins against Old Cranleighan 5-1 and Brighton 3-1. A disappointing and avoidable 3-2 loss away to Canterbury was followed by a top of the table derby clash with an international packed Southgate side which Loughts agonisingly lost 4-3 after an inspired save from the Southgate keeper denied Loughts a draw from a late flick. Loughts bounced back to win 3 of their 4 matches before Christmas to remain in contention for the title. After the break Loughts suffered a surprise home loss to Bath Buccs but rallied with two away wins and then won comfortably at home against Canterbury. The highlight of the season followed the week later as Loughts came from 2-0 down at half time to beat Southgate 5-2 away with two excellent goals from Euan Gilmour and a calm finish from Harvey Edwards from an inspired Ed Fleet aerial. Loughts went on to win all but one match to finish runners up and are well set for another promotion push next season. Congratulations to Lee as well as to captain Conor Caplan, and many thanks to Gerry Smith who will retire as manager after over ten years in charge.

Men’s 2s – East Area Premier division – 3rd

After promotion into the top tier of the East Area league of mostly first teams, Loughts were not sure what to expect but with four 1st team players deciding to step down and some excellent youngsters the mood was confident. Loughts started slowly with a 2-2 draw away to Magpies, won 10-1 against COP and 3-1 away to Blueharts before a disappointing 2-1 loss at home to Cambridge University. Loughts however remained in contention for promotion with a good 1-0 win against Chelmsford 1s and a 5-0 win against Old Southendians 1s away. Injuries however plagued the side. Six key players were lost, one with an ACL injury pre season, 3 with dislocated and broken shoulders and 2 suffering ankle injuries. Despite that Loughts finished third with 41 points behind winners Ipswich 1s. Ultimately, the team was relieved not to be promoted into the national league. Three fabulous long serving under 18s, Archie Crowley, top scorer Toby Gayler and Nathan Gladman will not be back at the club for three years and the premier league is a great level to play at. Congratulations to captain Gabriel Inch and manager Jamie Oxley on a very good season and many thanks to injured Harry Kempe and Elliott Smith for stepping in as coaches.

Men’s 3s – East Area division 1 South – 9th

After a few seasons of playing against the wrong standard of opposition the men’s 3s were relieved that the club’s appeal against a last minute East Area rule change was upheld. The decision was vindicated after the M3s won 4 of their first 5 matches including a 4-2 win against Colchester 1s who were promoted as champions with them. Then injuries kicked in. After a fine start the highly successful team lost five matches in a row and, despite calling in club stalwarts from retirement to fill the gaps, what started as another promotion season suddenly descended into a relegation battle. With two matches to play 7 teams remained in danger and Loughts had to play league leaders Bishops Stortford 1s and second placed St Albans 2s! Loughts dug in deep and drew 0-0 away at St Albans which left four teams on 25 points and only goal difference between safety and relegation. Normally a game in hand is a boon but not if you are playing the top team and a losing goal difference could be crucial. However, that does not matter when you win! Congratulations to Ryan Gladman, Edgar Padfield, coach Glen Noller and the whole team which proved it is more than capable of playing at this high level.

Men-s 4s – East Area division 3 South East – 8th

The men’s 4s were another team to suffer from the knock down effects of injuries. The season started in spectacular fashion with a 7-2 derby win against Crostyx 3s followed by a 9-0 win away against Braintree 2s. A 2-2 draw with Upminster 2s followed by a 5-2 loss to Saffron Walden 3s before a 4-4 draw with Witham 2s brought the team back down to earth. The team performed well in a difficult division against first and second teams and finished the season winning 2-0 against Thurrock 1s. William Holden was top scorer with 9 goals. Rob Gayler as captain, Sean White and James Paddon played almost every match and there were excellent contributions from a combination of veterans and youngsters befitting what was previously called the Academy side.

Men’s 5s Willows – East Area division 4 South East – 5th

The Willows M6s, founded in 2017, were champions five years running, rising from division 10SE to division 6SE in consecutive seasons. A merger with the Loppers M5s gave the Willows yet another promotion, this time by two divisions into the dizzy heights of division 4SE. Rob Simmons and his amalgamated squad found themselves facing first team opposition immediately but an opening day loss away to Romford 1s was followed by a 4-1 win against Rochford 1s. After an impressive season the team finished on a high with a 3-2 win against Tendring 1s. Mark Donnelly was leading goal scorer with 15 goals in 12 appearances.

Men’s 6s Willows Woodsmen – East Area division 5 South East – 8th

After finishing 3rd in division 6SE last season behind the Willows, the Woodsmen found themselves a division higher facing predominantly 2nd, 3rd and 4th teams. Despite a difficult start Loughts dug deep and won 10 and drew 2 of their matches and managed to achieve their pre-season target of consolidating their position in a higher league. What was particularly pleasing this season was how the team improved over the 22 league matches with some excellent hockey being played towards the end - even if some of the results didn’t quite reflect that achievement. In addition to pushing some players higher up the OL team structure, the Mens 6’s benefitted from an almost ever present core group of 8/9 players which ultimately made the difference towards the end of a challenging, yet successful season. A huge thanks to all those involved. Mark Barry and club photographer Jon Kiely both scored 6. Lastly, an extra special thanks to Ari Akanno for not only contributing as Captain on several occasions but for also arriving the right side of the meet time on more than 1 occasion :)

Men’s 7s Willows Rangers – East Area division 6 South East – 7th

The Willows Rangers had an excellent start to the season with a 4-1 win against Waltham Forest 4s, and a 1-1 draw away at Old Southendians 5s was followed by 5 wins in a row with Loughts top of the table (6 wins including an away walkover against Havering). Then the trickle down effect of injuries kicked in, meaning key players had to be sent up to the 6s, and the Rangers went from promotion contenders to mid table survivors finishing 7th. Ultimately Loughts finished on a very impressive 29 points but it was a season of what might have been. Dev Singh captained the team with aplomb until his injury forced him off the pitch, whereupon Jon Williams stepped up to take on the responsibility mid-season but of course the amended team took time to settle. Sam Kendrick was top scorer with 9 goals from 13 appearances.

Men’s 8s Willows Axemen – East Area division 7 South East – 6th

It was a difficult season for the Axemen in a league of new entrants including two very strong 2nd XI teams. With all the injury-driven changes in the higher squads, trying to get a settled team proved impossible and in the end 39 players represented the 8s at one time or another. Nonetheless, the season concluded with an exciting win in the final match and a very creditable 6th place finish overall. Core adults Michael Manlangit, David Strong, David Fowler and Ijaz Rajput turned out most regularly for the team, as did Alec Howson, Mathuran Arunan, George Fowler and Leo Everitt representing the junior section. Vikram Singh played the most games of all, and was leading goalscorer.